He scorns the MOTION

Meaning & Analysis

A person shows contempt for, and dismisses, a formal proposal or suggestion that has been put forward.

Insights

Resistance to Change

The proverb symbolizes a defiant resistance to change or progress. The 'motion' represents any new idea, innovation, or shift from the status quo, and scorning it reflects a rigid adherence to tradition or a fear of the unknown.

Arrogance and Inflexibility

It serves as a metaphor for hubris and closed-mindedness. The individual's scorn indicates a belief that the suggestion is beneath their consideration, revealing an arrogance that prevents them from entertaining alternative viewpoints.

Defiance of Convention

The act of scorning a motion can represent a rejection of collaborative or democratic principles. It is an assertion of individual will against a group's process, symbolizing a breakdown in cooperation and a defiance of established order.

Political and Legal Context

The term 'motion' carries strong parliamentary and legal weight, suggesting the proverb's origins in formal debate. To 'scorn the motion' is not just to disagree but to contemptuously reject the established process of proposal and deliberation, evoking a sense of political intransigence or rebellion.

Psychological Arrogance

Psychologically, the act of scorning a proposal often reveals deep-seated arrogance, cognitive rigidity, or a fear of change. It can be a defense mechanism for an individual who feels threatened by a new idea or lacks the capacity to engage with it constructively.

Literary Archetype

In literature and drama, a character who 'scorns the motion' is often depicted as a tragic figure whose pride leads to their downfall, or as an antagonist obstructing progress. It's a powerful and concise indicator of a character's fatal flaw.

Rhetorical Devices

Emphatic Verb

The power of the proverb lies in the strong, emotionally charged verb 'scorns'. It conveys not just disagreement but active, contemptuous dismissal, which gives the phrase its dramatic and critical force.

Conciseness

The proverb's impact is heightened by its extreme brevity. In just four words, it captures a complex interplay of pride, resistance, and social dynamics, making it both memorable and potent.

Symbolic Abstraction

The abstract nature of 'the motion' allows for broad application. It can refer to a formal political proposal, a simple suggestion, or the very concept of movement and change, making the proverb highly versatile.

prideresistancearrogancestubbornnessdefiancepolitics
Analyzed with gemini-2.5-pro on October 2, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

1616, DR., Contempt, no. 324
1659, N.R., p. 54

Original Scan

He scorns the MOTION - a scanned entry from Tilley's 1950 Dictionary of Proverbs.
Scan courtesy of HathiTrust Digital Library.
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.

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Last updated: January 27, 2026