"Malice is of a low stature, but it hath very long arms"

The quote "Malice is of a low stature, but it hath very long arms" by George Savile, a 17th-century English statesman and writer, is a brilliant metaphor about the nature and effect of malice. At first glimpse, the description of malice as being of "low stature" recommends that it is a base, petty, or ignoble quality. It implies that malice is grounded in small-mindedness or mean-spiritedness, rooted in negative feelings such as envy, spite, or bitterness. This representation characterizes malice as something that must be beneath the dignity of a person, a vice that appeals to the worst elements of humanity.

However, the interesting part of the metaphor lies in the idea that malice "hath very long arms". This recommends that in spite of its lowly nature, malice has an extensive reach. The length of its metaphorical "arms" suggests that the results of malice can extend far beyond its point of origin, reaching outward to cause damage or disturbance well beyond the instant vicinity of the destructive person. This element of malice is what makes it particularly unsafe. Even a seemingly insignificant act of malice, stemming from a person or location of little consequence, can have significant consequences, affecting individuals and situations much eliminated from the source.

The quote serves as a cautionary suggestion of the pervasive and enduring potential of unfavorable objectives and actions. It suggests that while malice itself originates from a place of weak point or insufficiency, it can nevertheless form occasions and modify lives in significant ways. The ramification is that people must be watchful and familiar with the power of malice, recognizing its ability to reach out and affect matters suddenly. By understanding the nature of malice through this metaphor, the reader is encouraged to increase above base instincts and avoid the risks of spiteful habits, promoting rather more positive and honorable interactions.