Spite Parliament Quote by Wilkie Collins
““You may scold your carpenter, when he has made a bad table, though you can't make a table yourself.' I say to you - 'Mr. Finch, you may point out a defect in a baby's petticoats, though you haven't got a baby yourself!' Doesn't that satisfy you? All right! Take another illustration. Look at your room here. I can see in the twinkling of an eye, that it's badly lit. You have only got one window - you ought to have two. Is it necessary to be a practical builder to discover that? Absurd! Are you satisfied now? No! Take another illustration. What's this printed paper, here, on the chimney-piece? Assessed Taxes. Ha! Assessed Taxes will do. You're not in the House of Commons; you're not a Chancellor of the Exchequer - but haven't you an opinion of your own about taxation, in spite of that? Must you and I be in Parliament before we can presume to see that the feeble old British Constitution is at its last gasp?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, 1868
The speaker mocks people who criticize complex matters without having practical experience, suggesting that authority requires direct involvement.
In simple terms: Criticizing without experience is absurd.
Key Takeaway
Know your limits before judging.
Themes
authority
experience
criticism
politics
Mood
skeptical
ironic
provocative
Type
satirical
political
dialogue
When to use this quote
- political debate
- legal reform
- public policy
- community meetings
Key Concepts
expertise
practical knowledge
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- How does experience shape authority?
- When is it okay to critique without experience?
A Different Perspective
Critics may have valuable insights despite lacking direct experience.
