To be a great and virtuous man appeared the highest honour that can befall a sensitive being; to be base and vicious, as many on record have been, appeared the lowest degradation, a condition more abject than that of the blind mole or harmless worm.

A young bamboo shoot growing among mature bamboo in soft morning light. — AI-generated editorial illustration · Quotations

What does this quotation mean?

From Chapter 13 of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. This is fictional dialogue or narration; its meaning depends on the surrounding scene, not on treating it as the author’s personal advice.

Sources and attribution

Verified

Source: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus , Chapter 13

Edition: Project Gutenberg English text, ebook 84

View reference ↗

From Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

Excerpt checked against the linked public-domain English edition. Korean rendering and context note by Quotations; not an authorized translation. Historical punctuation is retained; line breaks and editorial footnote markers are normalized.

Suggest an attribution correction ↗

Keep exploring

QUOTATION Verified

but it’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.

— Lewis Carroll ↗

A river flowing around smooth stones beneath a willow at sunset.

QUOTATION Verified

She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it),

— Lewis Carroll ↗

An open book and a ceramic tea cup beside a garden window.

QUOTATION Verified

I dearly love a laugh.

— Jane Austen ↗

QUOTATION Verified

Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.

— Jane Austen ↗