In keeping with the great Victorian tradition of making broad sweeping statements, Charles Dickens described two distinct rationales for misanthropy.
“The despisers of mankind – apart from the mere fools and mimics, of that creed – are of two sorts. They who believe their merit neglected and unappreciated, make up one class; they who receive adulation and flattery, knowing their own worthlessness, compose the other. Be sure that the coldest-hearted misanthropes are ever of this last order.”
Bibliography
Barnaby Rudge, Charles Dickens, Penguin, 2003 edition
This article was posted by Ronan McDonnell on
Friday, December 31st, 2010 at
16:04.
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