Mr. Brocklehurst is not a god: nor is he even a great and admired man: he is little liked here; he never took steps to make himself liked. Had he treated you as an especial favourite, you would have found enemies, declared or covert, all around you; as it is, the greater number would offer you sympathy if they dared.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 8. Helen Burns offers comfort to Jane after she is forced to stand on a stool in front of the whole school by Mr. Brocklehurst. She tries to make Jane feel better by saying that everyone is sympathetic to her because they don’t like Mr. Brocklehurst either.