Literary notes about Scheming (AI summary)
In literature, “scheming” is frequently used to characterize characters who engage in calculated, secretive plotting—whether for nefarious self-interest or even for supposedly benevolent ends. Writers have portrayed the term as embodying both the negative aspects of manipulation, as when politicians and rogues are depicted as devious and self-serving [1, 2], and the positive side of strategic planning, where it can imply resourcefulness or a commitment to helping others [3]. At times, the word conveys a subtle moral ambiguity, reflecting actions that range from outright treachery—as in legal and familial betrayals [4, 5]—to more lighthearted or even pragmatic pursuits of escape or improvement [6]. This varied use underscores the word's rich connotations and its enduring appeal in character development and plot construction.
- We know that he was a scheming politician, a courtier, a time-server of church and king, and a corrupt judge.
— from The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Complete ContentsDresden Edition—Twelve Volumes by Robert Green Ingersoll - " "That poor dear Mrs. Bullock," said Rowdy to Hollyock, as they drove away together—"she is always scheming and managing.
— from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray - He was forever scheming for the good of others, and chiefly in the way of helping them to help themselves.
— from Spare Hours by John Brown - “Which you showed, sir, by scheming with my brother to get me ousted from the post!”
— from The White Virgin by George Manville Fenn - He was scheming for a larger kingdom than that of Judah, and at once selected and fought for his capital.
— from The Historians' History of the World in Twenty-Five Volumes, Volume 02 Israel, India, Persia, Phoenicia, Minor Nations of Western Asia - I say that we should be scheming how to get out of it.
— from The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle
