Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great.
You may not despise any man, nor spurn anything.
Contempt putteth an edge upon anger more than the hurt itself.
Contempt is not a thing to be despised. It may be borne with a calm and equal mind, but no man, by lifting his head high, can pretend that he does not perceive the scorns that are poured down on him from above.
Speak with contempt of no man. Every one hath a tender sense of reputation. And every man hath a sting, which he may, if provoked too far, dart out at one time or other.
Assume the distaff--not the brand.
Contemptuous people are sure to be contemptible.
Christ saw much in this world to weep over, and much to pray over; but He saw nothing in it to look upon with contempt.
It is often more necessary to conceal contempt than resentment; the former is never forgiven, but the later is sometimes forgotten.
Men are much more unrolling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known than their crimes; and if you hint to a man that you think him silly, ignorant, or even ill-bred or awkward, he will hate you more and longer than if you tell him plainly that you think him a rogue.
Wrongs are often forgiven; but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever. It implies a discovery of weaknesses, which we are much more careful to conceal than crimes. Many a man will confess his crimes to a common friend, but I never knew a man who would tell his silly weaknesses to his most intimate one.
An Englishman fears contempt more than death.
Contempt is a kind of gangrene which, if it seizes one part of a character, corrupts all the rest by degrees.
No man can fall into contempt but those who deserve it.
Nothing so contemptible as habitual contempt.
Contempt is the only way to triumph over calumny.
There's nothing more contemptible than a bald man who pretends to have hair.