'I'm wicked, as you say, and I'm rude and I'm boorish and I discovered, after marrying Mr Scaddon, that I could be all these things and worse and that there would still be plenty of people to lick my boots.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker admits to negative traits but notes that status ensures others will still defer to them regardless.
- In plain terms
- Even if you behave badly, power makes people tolerate you.
- What can you take from it?
- Status often shields people from the consequences of bad behavior.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does status excuse poor behavior?
- Why do people bow to power?
Another view
This observation may reflect cynicism rather than universal truth.
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