“There are so many ways of being despicable it quite makes one’s head spin. But the way to be really despicable is to be contemptuous of other people’s pain.”

— James Baldwin , book Giovanni's Room

Source: Giovanni's Room

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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James Baldwin 163

(1924-1987) writer from the United States 1924–1987

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“.. we will continue to despise people until we have recognized, loved, and accepted what is despicable in ourselves. So that, then we go down, what is it that is despicable in ourselves? And there are some elements despicable in ourselves, which we don't want to look at, but which are part of our natures, that we are mortal.”

Jean Vanier (1928–2019) Canadian humanitarian

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“An anarchist does not want to rule others and does not want others to rule him. Nothing is so despicable as half-an-anarchist.”

Frank Van Dun (1947) Belgian law philosopher

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“Sarah palin's latest makes her either a despicable liar or horribly uninformed.”

David Shuster (1967) American television journalist

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“I have always considered it despicable to grovel for your life as if life were a favor. If you cannot live the way you want, there is no point in living”

Reinaldo Arenas (1943–1990) Cuban poet/novelist/playwright

“We will bring a comprehensive plan to the government to assist you in every way. There is no room for racism and discrimination in our society, none… We will turn racism into something contemptible and despicable.”

Benjamín Netanyahu (1949) Israeli prime minister

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“Making others happy, through kindness of speech and sincerity of right advice, is a sign of true greatness. To hurt another soul by sarcastic words, looks, or suggestions, is despicable.”

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) Yogi, a guru of Kriya Yoga and founder of Self-Realization Fellowship

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“One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.”

Gretchen Rubin (1966) American writer

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“There are many ways of being wrong, but only one way of being right.”

Susan Stebbing (1885–1943) British philosopher

As quoted in Thinking to Some Purpose (1939), p. 153

“If there is no point in the universe that we discover by the methods of science, there is a point that we can give the universe by the way we live, by loving each other, by discovering things about nature, by creating works of art. And that—in a way, although we are not the stars in a cosmic drama, if the only drama we're starring in is one that we are making up as we go along, it is not entirely ignoble that faced with this unloving, impersonal universe we make a little island of warmth and love and science and art for ourselves. That's not an entirely despicable role for us to play.”

Steven Weinberg (1933) American theoretical physicist

Quoted in Frankenberry The Faith of Scientists: In Their Own Words (2008), p. 336

“I know of nothing more despicable and pathetic than a man who devotes all the hours of the waking day to the making of money for money's sake.”

John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937) American business magnate and philanthropist

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“There are so many ways of being despicable it quite makes one’s head spin. But the way to be really despicable is to be contemptuous of other people’s pain.”

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James Baldwin 163

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