--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A little disdain is not amiss; a little…" description: "\"A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring.\" — William Congreve" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/william-congreve-5161_alluring_a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-s_2533120.png" --- # A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring. ![“A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring.” quote by William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/william-congreve-5161_alluring_a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-s_2533120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/william-congreve-5161_alluring_a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-s_2533120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/william-congreve-5161_alluring_a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-s_2533120.png) > “A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring.” [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A modest amount of contempt can be motivating, but excessive scorn is dangerous. **In simple terms:** A little contempt can spur action, too much is harmful. Key Takeaway Balance confidence with humility. Themes confidence humility motivation Mood cautious reflective Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - team dynamics - personal growth Key Concepts Pride social perception Questions to Reflect On - When does confidence become arrogance? - How can you use mild disdain constructively? A Different Perspective Too much scorn can alienate allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alluring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alluring/) [Disdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disdain/) ## Related quotes > [A little scorn is alluring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/a-little-scorn-is-alluring/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [O, nothing is more alluring than a levee from a couch in some confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/o-nothing-is-more-alluring-than-a-levee-from-a-couch-in-some-confusion/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [Procrastination is something you do yourself. You know: "I gotta sharpen these pencils before I start. I got 20 pencils, they're looking kinda dull."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/procrastination-is-something-you-do-yourself-you-know-i-gotta-sharpen/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [I am like a mariner born and bred on board a buccaneer brig whose soul has become so inured to storm and strife that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/i-am-like-a-mariner-born-and-bred-on-board-a-buccaneer-brig-whose/) [Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/) > [Just as meekness is in all our virtues, so is pride in all our sins. Whatever its momentary and alluring guise, pride is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/just-as-meekness-is-in-all-our-virtues-so-is-pride-in-all-our-sins/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“The grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence. Many politicians promise green, green grass by blending niceties with delusion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/the-grass-always-seems-greener-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence-many/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Depression is so treacherous - it can be so alluring as well as punishing. After all, it's yours and yours alone - no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/depression-is-so-treacherous-it-can-be-so-alluring-as-well-as/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [“I didn't want to be someone pretending to be a woman; I wanted to know what it was like to be a sexual woman...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-angelina-birch/i-didn-t-want-to-be-someone-pretending-to-be-a-woman-i-wanted-to-know/) Jessica Angelina Birch > [When I was a kid, I always had a big thing for Dannii Minogue. Initially I liked Kylie, but I quickly moved on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-buchan/when-i-was-a-kid-i-always-had-a-big-thing-for-dannii-minogue/) [Andrew Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-buchan/) > [“Modesty has, and will remain, an alluring trait because where egoism falters, humility conquers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-paula/modesty-has-and-will-remain-an-alluring-trait-because-where-egoism/) [Andy Paula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-paula/) > [Soft addictions are an alluring, seductive aspect of our culture - they are easy to attain and socially acceptable, they are even encouraged in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-wright/soft-addictions-are-an-alluring-seductive-aspect-of-our-culture-they/) [Judith Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-wright/) > [“Nothing overdone, nothing racy, which made her all the more alluring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ablow/nothing-overdone-nothing-racy-which-made-her-all-the-more-alluring/) [Keith Ablow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ablow/) > [Mars tugs at the human imagination like no other planet. With a force mightier than gravity, it attracts the eye to its shimmering red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-noble-wilford/mars-tugs-at-the-human-imagination-like-no-other-planet-with-a-force/) John Noble Wilford > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) ## More by William Congreve > [Mr Witwould: "Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies." Mrs Millamant: "Only with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/mr-witwould-pray-madam-do-you-pin-up-your-hair-with-all-your-letters/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [He who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/he-who-closes-his-ears-to-the-views-of-others-shows-little-confidence/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. Security is an insipid thing, through the overtaking and possessing of a wish discovers the folly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/uncertainty-and-expectation-are-the-joys-of-life-security-is-an/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [“One no more owes one's beauty to a lover than one's wit to an echo”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/one-no-more-owes-one-s-beauty-to-a-lover-than-one-s-wit-to-an-echo/) [william congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [I confess freely to you, I could never look long upon a monkey, without very mortifying reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/i-confess-freely-to-you-i-could-never-look-long-upon-a-monkey-without/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [Marriage is honourable, as you say; and if so, wherefore should Cuckoldom be a Discredit, being deriv'd from so honourable a Root?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/marriage-is-honourable-as-you-say-and-if-so-wherefore-should/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant; one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/a-wit-should-no-more-be-sincere-than-a-woman-constant-one-argues-a/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [They are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/they-are-at-the-end-of-the-gallery-retired-to-their-tea-and-scandal/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [There is in true Beauty, as in Courage, somewhat which narrow Souls cannot dare to admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/there-is-in-true-beauty-as-in-courage-somewhat-which-narrow-souls/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [I am a fool, I know it; and yet, Heaven help me, I'm poor enough to be a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/i-am-a-fool-i-know-it-and-yet-heaven-help-me-i-m-poor-enough-to-be-a/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [There is nothing more unbecoming a man of quality than to laugh ... 'tis such a vulgar expression of the passion!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/there-is-nothing-more-unbecoming-a-man-of-quality-than-to-laugh-tis/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [Honor is a public enemy, and conscience a domestic, and he that would secure his pleasure, must pay a tribute to one and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/honor-is-a-public-enemy-and-conscience-a-domestic-and-he-that-would/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [“True, 'tis an unhappy circumstance of life that love should ever die before us, and that the man so often should outlive the lover.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/true-tis-an-unhappy-circumstance-of-life-that-love-should-ever-die/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [Believe it, Men have ever been the same, And all the Golden Age is but a Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/believe-it-men-have-ever-been-the-same-and-all-the-golden-age-is-but/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [She likes herself, yet others hates, For that which in herself she prizes; And while she laughs at them, forgets She is the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/she-likes-herself-yet-others-hates-for-that-which-in-herself-she/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) [Explore all 103 William Congreve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) ## More Alluring quotes > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Mars tugs at the human imagination like no other planet. With a force mightier than gravity, it attracts the eye to its shimmering red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-noble-wilford/mars-tugs-at-the-human-imagination-like-no-other-planet-with-a-force/) John Noble Wilford > [“Nothing overdone, nothing racy, which made her all the more alluring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ablow/nothing-overdone-nothing-racy-which-made-her-all-the-more-alluring/) [Keith Ablow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ablow/) > [Soft addictions are an alluring, seductive aspect of our culture - they are easy to attain and socially acceptable, they are even encouraged in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-wright/soft-addictions-are-an-alluring-seductive-aspect-of-our-culture-they/) [Judith Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-wright/) > [“Modesty has, and will remain, an alluring trait because where egoism falters, humility conquers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-paula/modesty-has-and-will-remain-an-alluring-trait-because-where-egoism/) [Andy Paula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-paula/) > [When I was a kid, I always had a big thing for Dannii Minogue. Initially I liked Kylie, but I quickly moved on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-buchan/when-i-was-a-kid-i-always-had-a-big-thing-for-dannii-minogue/) [Andrew Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-buchan/) > [“I didn't want to be someone pretending to be a woman; I wanted to know what it was like to be a sexual woman...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-angelina-birch/i-didn-t-want-to-be-someone-pretending-to-be-a-woman-i-wanted-to-know/) Jessica Angelina Birch > [Depression is so treacherous - it can be so alluring as well as punishing. After all, it's yours and yours alone - no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/depression-is-so-treacherous-it-can-be-so-alluring-as-well-as/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [“The grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence. Many politicians promise green, green grass by blending niceties with delusion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/the-grass-always-seems-greener-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence-many/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Just as meekness is in all our virtues, so is pride in all our sins. Whatever its momentary and alluring guise, pride is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/just-as-meekness-is-in-all-our-virtues-so-is-pride-in-all-our-sins/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [I am like a mariner born and bred on board a buccaneer brig whose soul has become so inured to storm and strife that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/i-am-like-a-mariner-born-and-bred-on-board-a-buccaneer-brig-whose/) [Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/) > [Procrastination is something you do yourself. You know: "I gotta sharpen these pencils before I start. I got 20 pencils, they're looking kinda dull."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/procrastination-is-something-you-do-yourself-you-know-i-gotta-sharpen/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [There is no more alluring airspace in the world than the slit up a China girl's dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/there-is-no-more-alluring-airspace-in-the-world-than-the-slit-up-a/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [And I particularly like the whole thing of being boss. Boss and employee... It's the slave quality that I find very alluring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/and-i-particularly-like-the-whole-thing-of-being-boss-boss-and/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) [Browse all 105 Alluring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alluring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Congreve" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-scorn-is-alluring/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alluring" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-scorn-is-alluring/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/william-congreve-5161_alluring_a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-s_2533120.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/william-congreve-5161_alluring_a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-s_2533120.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cb/william-congreve-5161_alluring_a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-s_2533120.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A little disdain is not amiss; a little scorn is alluring.” — William Congreve", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Congreve", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A little disdain is not amiss;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-scorn-is-alluring/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/a-little-disdain-is-not-amiss-a-little-scorn-is-alluring/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```