quotes

The Best Quotations

best-quotations.com
 


My "other" sites:

best quotations about

Vanity


and Conceit, Arrogance

Vanity

59 quotesVisits: 12,022

Quotations

QuintilianThose who wish to appear wise among fools, they seem foolish among the wise.

—  Quintilian, 35-96 AD, Roman rhetorician

22 likes
George OrwellEach generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.

—  George Orwell, 1903-1950, British writer

13 likes
Blaise PascalCuriosity is only vanity. We usually only want to know something so that we can talk about it.

—  Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662, French thinker

8 likes
Carl SaganWe are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.

—  Carl Sagan, 1934-1996, American astronomer

8 likes
La RochefoucauldThe truest way to be deceived is to think oneself more smart than others.

—  La Rochefoucauld, 1613-1680, French writer

8 likes
La RochefoucauldThe desire to appear clever often prevents one from being so.

—  La Rochefoucauld, 1613-1680, French writer

7 likes
Helen RowlandMarriage is the operation by which a woman’s vanity and a man’s egotism are extracted without anaesthetic.

—  Helen Rowland, 1875-1950, American journalist & humorist

7 likes
Nicolas Gomez DavilaThe modern mentality is the child of human vanity puffed up by commercial advertising.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

6 likes
Albert CamusThe need to be always right is the sign of a vulgar mind.

—  Albert Camus, 1913-1960, French writer, Nobel 1957

6 likes
George SantayanaThe highest form of vanity is love of fame.

—  George Santayana, 1863-1952, Spanish-American philosopher

5 likes
William Hazlitt A woman’s vanity is interested in making the object of her choice the god of her idolatry.

—  William Hazlitt , 1778-1830, English essayist & critic

5 likes
Bill GatesSuccess is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.

—  Bill Gates, 1955-, American businessman

5 likes
John KeatsI will give you a definition of a proud man: he is a man who has neither vanity nor wisdom; one filled with hatreds cannot be vain, neither can he be wise.

—  John Keats, 1795-1821, English poet

5 likes
Gore VidalA narcissist is someone better looking than you are.

—  Gore Vidal, 1925-2012, American writer

4 likes
Oscar WildeI never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.

—  Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900, Irish writer

3 likes
Marie von Ebner-EschenbachWhat would happen to the power of women if it were not for the vanity of men?

—  Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 1830-1916, German author of maxims

3 likes
Ludwig WittgensteinIt seems to me that, in every culture, I come across a chapter headed Wisdom. And then I know exactly what is going to follow: Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

—  Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889-1951, Austrian philosopher

3 likes
Karl LagerfeldVanity is the healthiest thing in life.

—  Karl Lagerfeld, 1933-2019, German fashion designer

2 likes
Kurt VonnegutJust because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the Universe.

—  Kurt Vonnegut, 1922-2007, American writer

2 likes
La RochefoucauldWe say little when vanity does not make us speak.

—  La Rochefoucauld, 1613-1680, French writer

2 likes
La RochefoucauldWhat makes the vanity of others insufferable to us is that it wounds our own.

—  La Rochefoucauld, 1613-1680, French writer

2 likes
Karl KrausArtists have a right to be modest and a duty to be vain.

—  Karl Kraus, 1874-1936, Austrian writer

2 likes
Bob DylanSometimes you just have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on.

—  Bob Dylan, 1941-, American singer [Nobel 2016]

2 likes
Mignon McLaughlinWe all dream of being the darling of everybody's darling.

—  Mignon McLaughlin, 1913-1983, American magazine editor

2 likes
Devil’s Advocate (1997)Vanity is definitely my favorite sin.

—  from the film Devil’s Advocate (1997)

2 likes
Bertrand RussellAnd if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence.

—  Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British philosopher

George EliotHe was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow.

—  George Eliot, 1819-1880, English writer

Muhammad AliIt's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am.

—  Muhammad Ali, 1942-2016, American boxer

Gustave FlaubertHe had the vanity to believe men did not like him – while men simply did not know him.

—  Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880, French writer

Barbara WaltersA great many people think that polysyllables are a sign of intelligence and refinement so they think they will impress others with their command of obscure words.

—  Barbara Walters, 1929-2022, American TV journalist

Noel CowardConceit is an outward manifestation of inferiority.

—  Noel Coward, 1899-1973, British playwright

Terry PratchettEven our fears make us feel important, because we fear we might not be.

—  Terry Pratchett, 1948-2015, British writer

W.H. AudenTo some degree every American poet feels that the whole responsibility for contemporary poetry has fallen upon his shoulders, that he is a literary aristocracy of one.

—  W.H. Auden, 1907-1973, British poet

Robert Louis StevensonVanity dies hard; in some obstinate cases it outlives the man.

—  Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894, Scottish writer

Henry de MontherlantVanity is the dominant passion of man.

—  Henry de Montherlant, 1895-1972, French writer

Salvador DaliThere comes a moment in every person's life when they realize they adore me.

—  Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Spanish painter

Pierre Claude BoisteThe great would not think themselves demigods if the little did not worship them.

—  Pierre Claude Boiste, 1765-1824, French lexicographer

Salvador DaliSnobbery is always being able to place oneself in places where others do not have access.

—  Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Spanish painter

Salvador DaliRight now I'm the greatest. I don't say this through vanity. It's just that the rest are so bad.

—  Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Spanish painter

Salvador DaliGeniuses must never die, the progress of mankind depends on us.

—  Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Spanish painter

André FrossardIntellectual is someone who is out to explain to others what he himself has not understood.

—  André Frossard, 1915-1995, French politician & essayist

Dale CarnegieOne reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.

—  Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955, American self-help writer

Robert M. PirsigIf you have a high evaluation of yourself then your ability to recognize new facts is weakened.

—  Robert M. Pirsig, 1928-2017, American writer

TertullianI must dispel vanity with vanity.

—  Tertullian, 155-240 AD, Berber-Roman Christian author

Nicolas ChamfortChange of fashion is the tax levied by the industry of the poor on the vanity of the rich.

—  Nicolas Chamfort, 1740-1794, French writer

Marie von Ebner-EschenbachWe are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don’t care for.

—  Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 1830-1916, German author of maxims

Thomas SowellVirtually no idea is too ridiculous to be accepted, even by very intelligent and highly educated people, if it provides a way for them to feel special and important. Some confuse that feeling with idealism.

—  Thomas Sowell, 1930 -, American political thinker

Nicolas Gomez DavilaAn American historian cannot write history without lamenting that Providence did not consult him beforehand.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

Bible Quotes

Old TestamentVanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

—  Old Testament ‐ Ecclesiastes 1:2

5 likes

Quotes in Verse

T. S. EliotHalf the harm that is done in this world
Is due to people who want to feel important.
They don't mean to do harm — but the harm does not interest them.

—  T. S. Eliot, 1888-1965, British poet, Nobel 1948

2 likes

Funny Quotes

Eugene IonescoGod is dead. Marx is dead. And I don’t feel so well myself.

—  Eugene Ionesco, 1912-1994, French-Romanian playwright

6 likes
Fred AllenSome movie stars wear their sunglasses even in church. They're afraid God might recognize them and ask for autographs.

—  Fred Allen, 1894-1956, American comedian

4 likes

Ancient Greek

SocratesThe empty sacs are inflated with air and the fools with conceit.

Τους μεν κενούς ασκούς η πνοή διίστησι, τους δ’ ανοήτους, το οίημα.

—  Socrates, 469-399 BC, Ancient Geek Philosopher

5 likes
SolonSatiety comes of riches and hubris comes of satiety.

Τον κόρον υπό του πλούτου γεννάσθαι, την δε ύβριν υπό του κόρου.

—  Solon, 630-560 BC, Ancient Greek lawmaker & philosopher

5 likes
Ancient Greek proverbZeus punishes those who are too uppity.

Ζευς κολαστής των άγαν υπερφρόνων.

—  Ancient Greek proverb ‐ Children of Hercules

4 likes
AeschylusArrogance in full bloom bears a crop of ruinous folly from which it reaps a harvest all of tears.

Ύβρις γαρ εξανθούσ᾽ εκάρπωσεν στάχυν άτης, όθεν πάγκλαυτον εξαμά θέρος.

—  Aeschylus, 525-456 BC, Ancient Greek tragedian

3 likes
SophoclesOne who is a slave to others should not be vainglorious.

Ου γαρ εκπέλει φρονείν μέγα όστις δούλος εστι των πέλας.

—  Sophocles, 496-406 BC, Ancient tragic poet ‐ Antigone

3 likes

Proverbs

Yiddish proverbRun away from an insult but don’t chase after honor.

—  Yiddish proverb

5 likes



Similar categories & topics of Quotations






Similar Topics

Boasting

Ambition

Excellence

Confidence

Obstinacy

Greed

Luxury

Complacency

Unworthiness

Audacity

Competition

Pride

Contrary Topics

Self-knowledge

Humility

Frugality

Self-deprecation

 Popular Topics
1 Friendship
2 Victory & Defeat
3 Solitude
4 Seduction
5 Self-reliance
6 Ego
7 Drinking
8 Cunning
9 Eroticism
10 Nudity
11 Vanity
12 Self-deprecation
13 Incompetence
14 Sex
15 Religion
16 Meaning of Life
17 Life
18 Death
19 Corruption
20 Democracy
 

2024: Manolis Papathanassiou