Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.
Joseph AddisonRead
Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious, but an ill one more contemptible.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Noble lineage can enhance the reputation of a good person, while it can worsen the perception of a bad person.
In this quote, Joseph Addison suggests that a person's background and social status can amplify the qualities of their character. For individuals with a virtuous nature, having a prestigious title or ancestry can add to their esteem and admiration. Conversely, for those who are of ill character, these same markers can intensify society's disdain and contempt, highlighting the moral implications of their actions and character regardless of the external accolades they may possess.
Themes
TitleAncestryCharacterReputationMorality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a speech about the importance of character over status.
More from Joseph Addison
All quotes βGood nature is more agreeable in conversation than wit and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty.
Joseph AddisonRead
Ridicule is generally made use of to laugh men out of virtue and good sense, by attacking everything praiseworthy in human life.
Joseph AddisonRead
Admiration is a very short lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it still be fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.
Joseph AddisonRead
It is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make observations in criticism, morality, or in any art or science, which have not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us but to represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or more uncommon lights.
Joseph AddisonRead
An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
Joseph AddisonRead
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