His scorn of the great is repeated too often to be real; no man thinks much of that which he despises.

Summary

This quote by Jean de la Bruyère suggests that when someone continually expresses contempt or disdain towards those who are considered great or important, it is likely not a genuine sentiment. The quote implies that a person's criticism is often rooted in their own insecurities or feelings of inferiority. It suggests that individuals tend to devalue or disregard things that they despise and therefore their scorn may not be a true reflection of their honest opinions or beliefs.