--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we call vice in our neighbor may be…" description: "\"What we call vice in our neighbor may be nothing less than a crude virtue. To him who knows nothing more of precious stones than he can learn from a da..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/william-gilmore-simms-12905_contemplation_what-we-call-vice-in-our-neighbor-may-be_870314.jpg" --- # What we call vice in our neighbor may be nothing less than… ![“What we call vice in our neighbor may be nothing less than a crude virtue. To him who knows nothing more of precious stones than he can learn from a daily contemplation of his breastpin, a diamond in the mine must be a very uncompromising sort of stone.” quote by William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/william-gilmore-simms-12905_contemplation_what-we-call-vice-in-our-neighbor-may-be_870314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/william-gilmore-simms-12905_contemplation_what-we-call-vice-in-our-neighbor-may-be_870314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/william-gilmore-simms-12905_contemplation_what-we-call-vice-in-our-neighbor-may-be_870314.jpg) > “What we call vice in our neighbor may be nothing less than a crude virtue. To him who knows nothing more of precious stones than he can learn from a daily contemplation of his breastpin, a diamond in the mine must be a very uncompromising sort of stone.” [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral judgments are subjective; what one sees as a flaw may be a hidden strength. **In simple terms:** Vice can be a hidden virtue. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about others. Themes morality perception virtue Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution - leadership decisions Key Concepts subjectivity ethical relativism Questions to Reflect On - How might you reframe a perceived flaw? - What virtues could be hidden in vice? A Different Perspective Not all perceived vices are harmful; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Precious stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precious-stones/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [“Ireland is probably named the “Emerald Isle” because there are lots of precious stones found there, such as sapphires and rubies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/ireland-is-probably-named-the-emerald-isle-because-there-are-lots-of/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-Paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-royal-throne-of-kings-this-scepter-d-isle-this-earth-of-majesty-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Genius, like gold and precious stones, is chiefly prized because of its rarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/genius-like-gold-and-precious-stones-is-chiefly-prized-because-of-its/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The most outrageous shoe that I had to do was a shoe where the person gave me stones - precious stones - and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/the-most-outrageous-shoe-that-i-had-to-do-was-a-shoe-where-the-person/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [“At this point, the sequence of my memories is disrupted. I sank into a chaos of brief, incoherent and bizarre hallucinations, in which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/at-this-point-the-sequence-of-my-memories-is-disrupted-i-sank-into-a/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [Every woman deserves diamonds, and even if you can't afford to go out and buy diamonds for yourself or you don't have actual stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/every-woman-deserves-diamonds-and-even-if-you-can-t-afford-to-go-out/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Comedians are a much rarer and far more valuable commodity than all the gold and precious stones in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/comedians-are-a-much-rarer-and-far-more-valuable-commodity-than-all/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Didn't love, like a plant from India, require a prepared soil, a particular temperature? Sighs in the moonlight, long embraces, tears flowing over hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/didn-t-love-like-a-plant-from-india-require-a-prepared-soil-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“People who do not examine themselves are like people with a sickness that closes off their capillaries and therefore corrupts their blood, causing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/people-who-do-not-examine-themselves-are-like-people-with-a-sickness/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [“There was a legend on the road that the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City was a veritable storehouse of gold, silver, and precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/there-was-a-legend-on-the-road-that-the-mormon-tabernacle-in-salt/) [Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/) > [“There was an artist in the city of Kouroo who was disposed to strive after perfection. One day it came into his mind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-was-an-artist-in-the-city-of-kouroo-who-was-disposed-to-strive/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“The opinions, eloquence and articulacy of the man or woman on the street can often be as invaluable as precious stones”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wiggins/the-opinions-eloquence-and-articulacy-of-the-man-or-woman-on-the/) [Karl Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wiggins/) > [“I seen the ring in that tangle of riches and it seemed to dark to be ruby. Might have been garnet, I still don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-greene/i-seen-the-ring-in-that-tangle-of-riches-and-it-seemed-to-dark-to-be/) [Amy Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-greene/) > [“Nothing is richer than precious stones and than gold; nothing is finer than adamant, nothing nobler than the blood of kings; nothing is sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-passerat/nothing-is-richer-than-precious-stones-and-than-gold-nothing-is-finer/) Jean Passerat > [“Holmes took up the stone and held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just see how it glints and sparkles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-arthur-conan-doyle/holmes-took-up-the-stone-and-held-it-against-the-light-it-s-a-bonny/) [Sir Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-arthur-conan-doyle/) ## More by William Gilmore Simms > [Distinction is an eminence that is attained but too frequently at the expense of a fireside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/distinction-is-an-eminence-that-is-attained-but-too-frequently-at-the/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [I believe that economists put decimal points in their forecasts to show they have a sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/i-believe-that-economists-put-decimal-points-in-their-forecasts-to/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Today's public opinion, though it may appear as light as air, may be tomorrow's legislation-for better or for worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/today-s-public-opinion-though-it-may-appear-as-light-as-air-may-be/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [The wonder is not that the world is so easily governed, but that so small a number of persons will suffice for the purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/the-wonder-is-not-that-the-world-is-so-easily-governed-but-that-so/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Tact is one of the first mental virtues, the absence of which is often fatal to the best of talents; it supplies the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/tact-is-one-of-the-first-mental-virtues-the-absence-of-which-is-often/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Ambition is frequently the only refuge which life has left to the denied or mortified affections. We chide at the grasping eye, the daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/ambition-is-frequently-the-only-refuge-which-life-has-left-to-the/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [The true law of the race is progress and development. Whenever civilization pauses in the march of conquest, it is overthrown by the barbarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/the-true-law-of-the-race-is-progress-and-development-whenever/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Better that we should err in action than wholly refuse to perform. The storm is so much better than the calm, as it declares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/better-that-we-should-err-in-action-than-wholly-refuse-to-perform-the/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [He who would acquire fame must not show himself afraid of censure. The dread of censure is the death of genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/he-who-would-acquire-fame-must-not-show-himself-afraid-of-censure-the/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [The birth of a child is the imprisonment of a soul. The soul must work its way out of prison, and, in doing so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/the-birth-of-a-child-is-the-imprisonment-of-a-soul-the-soul-must-work/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Public opinion is the greatest force for good, when it happens to be on our side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/public-opinion-is-the-greatest-force-for-good-when-it-happens-to-be/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Vanity may be likened to the smooth-skinned and velvet-footed mouse, nibbling about forever in expectation of a crumb; while self-esteem is too apt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/vanity-may-be-likened-to-the-smooth-skinned-and-velvet-footed-mouse/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Tact is one of the first mental virtues, the absence of it is fatal to the best talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/tact-is-one-of-the-first-mental-virtues-the-absence-of-it-is-fatal-to/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Neither praise or blame is the object of true criticism. Justly to discriminate, firmly to establish, wisely to prescribe, and honestly to award. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/neither-praise-or-blame-is-the-object-of-true-criticism-justly-to/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) > [Revelation may not need the help of reason, but man does, even when in possession of revelation. Reason may be described as the candle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gilmore-simms/revelation-may-not-need-the-help-of-reason-but-man-does-even-when-in/) [William Gilmore Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) [Explore all 52 William Gilmore Simms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gilmore-simms/) ## More Contemplation quotes > [“Inside every pause lived a contemplation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/inside-every-pause-lived-a-contemplation/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The problem with the contemplative life was that there was no end to contemplation, no fixed time limit after which thought had to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/the-problem-with-the-contemplative-life-was-that-there-was-no-end-to/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Poetical taste is the only magician whose wand is not broken. No hand, except its own, can dissolve the fabric of beauty in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/poetical-taste-is-the-only-magician-whose-wand-is-not-broken-no-hand/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [Catholicity seized on man... and the mystics, transcending all, taught him to ascend on high with the wings of contemplation the Ladder of Jacob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-donoso-cortes/catholicity-seized-on-man-and-the-mystics-transcending-all-taught-him/) Juan Donoso Cortes > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The whole of life is a journey toward youthful old age, toward self-contemplation, love, gaiety, and, in a fundamental sense, the most gratifying time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-whole-of-life-is-a-journey-toward-youthful-old-age-toward-self/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [“Yet that grief and this joy were alike outside all the ordinary conditions of life; they were loop-holes, as it were, in that ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/yet-that-grief-and-this-joy-were-alike-outside-all-the-ordinary/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [We must not imitate the externals of nature with so much fidelity that the picture fails to evoke that wonderful teasing recurrence of emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-carlson/we-must-not-imitate-the-externals-of-nature-with-so-much-fidelity/) [John F. Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-carlson/) > [As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. To make oneself more numb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/as-objects-of-contemplation-images-of-the-atrocious-can-answer-to/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [I think the church should strive to give parishioners good music. Music is as necessary for worship as a building with a beautiful altar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/i-think-the-church-should-strive-to-give-parishioners-good-music/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [ My contemplation of life and human nature in that secluded place \[cell 54 of Cairo Central Prison\] taught me that he who cannot change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/my-contemplation-of-life-and-human-nature-in-that-secluded-place-cell/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) [Browse all 960 Contemplation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we call vice in our neighbor may be nothing less than a crude virtue. 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