--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We had rather do anything than…" description: "\"We had rather do anything than acknowledge the merit of another if we can help it. We cannot bear a superior or an equal. Hence ridicule is sure to pre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/william-hazlitt-326_acknowledge_we-had-rather-do-anything-than-acknowled_2652087.jpg" --- # We had rather do anything than acknowledge the merit of… ![“We had rather do anything than acknowledge the merit of another if we can help it. We cannot bear a superior or an equal. Hence ridicule is sure to prevail over truth, for the malice of mankind, thrown into the scale, gives the casting weight.” quote by William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/william-hazlitt-326_acknowledge_we-had-rather-do-anything-than-acknowled_2652087.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/william-hazlitt-326_acknowledge_we-had-rather-do-anything-than-acknowled_2652087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/william-hazlitt-326_acknowledge_we-had-rather-do-anything-than-acknowled_2652087.jpg) > “We had rather do anything than acknowledge the merit of another if we can help it. We cannot bear a superior or an equal. Hence ridicule is sure to prevail over truth, for the malice of mankind, thrown into the scale, gives the casting weight.” [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People tend to mock truth when they cannot accept superiority, using ridicule as a defense. **In simple terms:** Humans ridicule truth when threatened by superiority. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and openness to others’ merit. Themes pride humility truth social dynamics Mood thoughtful analytical Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - debate - teamwork - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology of ridicule social comparison Questions to Reflect On - Why do we feel threatened by others’ excellence? - How can we foster constructive criticism? A Different Perspective Ridicule can also protect self‑esteem, complicating honest discourse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Malice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malice/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [I have endured a great deal of ridicule without much malice; and have received a great deal of kindness, not quite free from ridicule.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-have-endured-a-great-deal-of-ridicule-without-much-malice-and-have/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“all his life he had “endured a great deal of ridicule without much malice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/all-his-life-he-had-endured-a-great-deal-of-ridicule-without-much/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Malice often takes the garb of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/malice-often-takes-the-garb-of-truth/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The ignorance of the world leaves one at the mercy of its malice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-ignorance-of-the-world-leaves-one-at-the-mercy-of-its-malice/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We prefer a person with vivacity and high spirits, though bordering upon insolence, to the timid and pusillanimous; we are fonder of wit joined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-prefer-a-person-with-vivacity-and-high-spirits-though-bordering/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Comedy naturally wears itself out - destroys the very food on which it lives; and by constantly and successfully exposing the follies and weaknesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/comedy-naturally-wears-itself-out-destroys-the-very-food-on-which-it/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We grow tired of everything but turning others into ridicule, and congratulating ourselves on their defects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-grow-tired-of-everything-but-turning-others-into-ridicule-and/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [You long for one true friend? 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