Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions History Colors (New!)

Literary notes about Modicum (AI summary)

The term "modicum" is often employed in literature to denote the smallest yet critical quantity of something, whether it be a tangible resource or an abstract quality. Nietzsche, for example, uses it to highlight a minimal—but invaluable—amount of human reason, freedom, or power, suggesting that even a scant dose of these elements carries significant weight ([1], [2], [3], [4]). Carlyle similarly deploys the term to describe a minimal allotment, whether referring to daily sustenance or a sparse number of armaments in a turbulent era ([5], [6]). Authors like Fielding and Verne incorporate "modicum" to underscore moments where an insufficient, yet necessary, measure determines duty or personal resolve ([7], [8]). Even in texts steeped in classical language or allegory, such as those by Locke or Joyce, the word captures the idea that a minute quantity—be it of resistance, effort, or applicability—can be pivotal within its respective context ([9], [10]). Collectively, these usages illustrate that "modicum" serves as a precise marker of minimal yet essential elements that often play a profound role in the narrative or argument.
  1. "Nothing is purchased more dearly," says the same book a little later, "than the modicum of human reason and freedom which is now our pride.
    — from The Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
  2. A certain modicum of brutality [Pg 359] cannot be dispensed with: no more than we can do without a certain approximation to criminality.
    — from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book III and IV by Nietzsche
  3. The modicum of power which you represent decides your rank; all the rest is cowardice.
    — from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book III and IV by Nietzsche
  4. There is nothing on earth which can have any value, if it have not a modicum of power—granted, of course, that life itself is the Will to Power.
    — from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book I and II by Nietzsche
  5. 'Two ounces of bread per day' in the modicum allotted: wide-waving, doleful are the Bakers' Queues; Farmers' houses are become pawnbrokers' shops.
    — from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle
  6. Hitherto at the Hotel-de-Ville was only such modicum of indifferent firelocks as we have seen.
    — from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle
  7. Had the modicum been less, I should have known my duty.
    — from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding
  8. After having taken a very small modicum of the welcome refreshment, he had seated himself in a corner with his usual imperturbable gravity.
    — from A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
  9. Cum ille si intolerabilis tyrannus est (modicum enim ferre omnino debet) resistere cum reverentia possit, Barclay contra Monarchom.
    — from Second Treatise of Government by John Locke
  10. In her lay a Godframed Godgiven preformed possibility which thou hast fructified with thy modicum of man’s work.
    — from Ulysses by James Joyce

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Threepeat Redux