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About this quote

What does it mean?
Thurber twists the beatitude into satire, suggesting meekness is a passive strategy for eventual reward.
In plain terms
The quiet people will get what they deserve eventually.
What can you take from it?
Patience may be rewarded, but not always for noble reasons.

Where it applies

  • moral commentary
  • social observation
  • political satire

Putting it to work

  • writing satire
  • discussing justice
  • analyzing humility

Questions to consider

  • Is patience a virtue or a coping mechanism?
  • Who benefits when people wait their turn?

Another view

It trivializes real systemic barriers that prevent meek people from inheriting anything.

More from James Thurber

  1. Laughter need not be cut out of anything, since it improves everything.

    Permalink to quote #73
  2. Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.

    Permalink to quote #75
  3. Last night I dreamed of a small consolation enjoyed only by the blind: Nobody knows the trouble I've not seen!

    Permalink to quote #72

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