Quote by Mark Twain

He is useless on top of the ground; he ought to be under it, inspiring the cabbages.

He is useless on top of the ground; he ought to be under it,

Summary

This quote suggests that the person being referred to is of no value or have no purpose in their current position or role in life. They are viewed as being better suited to a more menial or humble role, like tending to plants, specifically cabbages. In this context, being "under the ground" implies hidden or insignificant existence, while inspiring the cabbages denotes a lowly but potentially useful endeavor. The quote is essentially highlighting the individual's perceived worthlessness and the belief that they could be better utilized elsewhere.

Topics

Futility

By Mark Twain

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Let us record the atoms as they fall upon the mind in the or

Let us record the atoms as they fall upon the mind in the order in which they fall, let us trace the pattern, however disconnected and incoherent in appearance, which each sight or incident scores upon the consciousness. Let us not take it for granted that life exists more fully in what is commonly thought big than in what is commonly thought small.

Authors Advice Writing Readers

The Westerly Wind asserting his sway from the south-west qua

The Westerly Wind asserting his sway from the south-west quarter is often like a monarch gone mad, driving forth with wild imprecations the most faithful of his courtiers to shipwreck, disaster, and death.

Weather

If we knew all the laws of Nature, we should need only one f

If we knew all the laws of Nature, we should need only one fact, or the description of one actual phenomenon, to infer all the particular results at that point. Now we know only a few laws, and our result is vitiated, not, of course, by any confusion or irregularity in Nature, but by our ignorance of essential elements in the calculation. Our notions of law and harmony are commonly confined to those instances which we detect; but the harmony which results from a far greater number of seemingly conflicting, but really concurring, laws, which we have not detected, is still more wonderful. The particular laws are as our points of view, as, to the traveler, a mountain outline varies with every step, and it has an infinite number of profiles, though absolutely but one form. Even when cleft or bored through it is not comprehended in its entireness.

Henry David Thoreau

Science

It is true, that which I have revealed to you; there is no G

It is true, that which I have revealed to you; there is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream--a grotesque and foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought--a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought, wandering forlorn among the empty eternities!

Literature The Mysterious Stranger

Of course God is endlessly multi-dimensional so every religi

Of course God is endlessly multi-dimensional so every religion that exists on earth represents some face, some side of God.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Religion

We have a natural right to make use of our pens as of our to

We have a natural right to make use of our pens as of our tongues, at our peril, risk and hazard.

We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not

We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect.

Attitude

I didn't invent forensic science and medicine. I just was on

I didn't invent forensic science and medicine. I just was one of the first people to recognize how interesting it is.

Patricia Cornwell

Science

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark the

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

My home State of North Carolina ranks 12th in the United Sta

My home State of North Carolina ranks 12th in the United States for increased aging population and, according to a national report, 41st in overall health. According to this same report, individuals aged 50+ are the least healthy.

Health

I always felt that the great high privilege, relief and comf

I always felt that the great high privilege, relief and comfort of friendship was that one had to explain nothing.

Katherine Mansfield

Friends

The world only goes round by misunderstanding.

The world only goes round by misunderstanding.

Charles Baudelaire

Understanding