People of small caliber are always carping. They are bent on showing their own superiority, their knowledge or prowess or good breeding.

I am obnoxious to each carping tongue/ Who says my hand a needle better fits./ A poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong/ For such despite they cast on female wits;/ If what I do prove well, it won't advance,/ They'll say it's stolen, or else, it was by chance.

People of small caliber are always carping. They are bent on showing their own superiority their knowledge or prowess or good breeding.