Contented, unambitious people are all very well in their way. They form a neat, useful background for great portraits to be painted against, and they make a respectable, if not particularly intelligent, audience for the active spirits of the age to play before. I have not a word to say against contented people so long as they keep quiet.


"On Getting On in the World". - Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow (1886)


Contented, unambitious people are all very well in their way. They form a neat, useful background for great portraits to be painted against, and they ...

Contented, unambitious people are all very well in their way. They form a neat, useful background for great portraits to be painted against, and they ...

Contented, unambitious people are all very well in their way. They form a neat, useful background for great portraits to be painted against, and they ...

Contented, unambitious people are all very well in their way. They form a neat, useful background for great portraits to be painted against, and they ...