Dignity of position adds to dignity of character, as well as to dignity of carriage. Give us a proud position, and we are impelled to act up to it.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
It is base and unworthy to live below the dignity of our nature.
—Benjamin Whichcote (1609–83) British Anglican Priest, Theologian, Philosopher
At night, when the curtains are drawn and the fire flickers, my books attain a collective dignity.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
We rise in glory, as we sink in pride:
Where boasting ends, there dignity begins.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
No race can prosper ’til it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling the field, as in writing a poem.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
True dignity abides with him only, who, in the silent hour of inward thought, can still suspect, and still revere himself, in lowliness of heart.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, human liberty as the source of national action, the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Men possessing minds which are morose, solemn, and inflexible, enjoy, in general, a greater share of dignity than of happiness.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
There is a healthful hardiness about real dignity that never dreads contact and communion with others, however humble.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
Poverty won’t allow him to lift up his head;dignity won’t allow him to bow it down.
—African Proverb
Life is an unanswered question, but let’s still believe in the dignity and importance of the question.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
Dignity and love do not blend well, nor do they continue long together.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Pride and dignity would belong to women if only men would leave them alone
—Egyptian Proverb
It is more offensive to outshine in dignity than in personal attractions.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Humility is the ability to give up your pride and still retain your dignity.
—Vanna Bonta (1958–2014) Italian-American Novelist, Poet, Actress
If Darwin’s theory should be true, it will not degrade man; it will simply raise the whole animal world into dignity, leaving man as far in advance as he is at present
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Every man has his dignity. I’m willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion and not when someone else tells me to.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
Each of us, face to face with other men, is clothed with some sort of dignity, but we know only too well all the unspeakable things that go on in the heart.
—Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936) Italian Dramatist, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Author
There is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss.
—Doug Williams (b.1955) American Sportsperson, Football Executive
Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
True dignity is never gained by place, and never lost when honors are withdrawn.
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640) English Playwright
All that passes is raised to the dignity of expression; all that happens is raised to the dignity of meaning. Everything is either symbol or parable.
—Paul Claudel (1868–1955) French Poet, Essayist, Dramatist
Human Dignity has gleamed only now and then and here and there, in lonely splendor, throughout the ages, a hope of the better men, never an achievement of the majority.
—James Thurber
A fit of anger is as fatal to dignity as a dose of arsenic is to life.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
The only kind of dignity which is genuine is that which is not diminished by the indifference of others.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
Most of the men of dignity, who awe or bore their more genial brethren, are simply men who possess the art of passing off their insensibility for wisdom, their dullness for depth, and of concealing imbecility of intellect under haughtiness of manner.
—Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–86) American Literary Critic
The ultimate end of all revolutionary social change is to establish the sanctity of human life, the dignity of man, the right of every human being to liberty and well-being.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
The sum of behavior is to retain a man’s own dignity, without intruding upon the liberty of others.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Dignity is like a perfume; those who use it are scarcely conscious of it.
—Christina, Queen of Sweden (1626–89) Swedish Monarch
Perhaps the only true dignity of man is his capacity to despise himself.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Let none presume to wear an undeserved dignity.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Dignity is a mask we wear to hide our ignorance.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
The dignity of man is vindicated as much by the thinker and poet as by the statesman and soldier.
—James Bryant Conant (1893–1978) American Chemist, Educator
An imposing air should always be taken as an evidence of imposition.—Dignity is often a veil between us and the real truth of things.
—Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–86) American Literary Critic
If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
—James A. Michener (1907–97) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Historian