People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher and better than themselves.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Practice what you preach.
—Common Proverb
Folks don’t like to have somebody around knowing more than they do. It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talking right, they’ve got to want to learn themselves, and when they don’t want to learn there’s nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.
—Harper Lee (1926–2016) American Novelist
It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach twenty men what were good to be done, than to be one of twenty to follow mine own teaching.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Much more gracious and profitable is doctrine by ensample, than by rule.
—Edmund Spenser (1552–99) English Poet
Example is not the main thing in influencing others—it’s the only thing.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
He teaches me to be good who does me good.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them; their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
The pulpit teaches to be honest, the marketplace trains to overreaching and fraud—Teaching has not a tithe of the efficacy of example and training.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
I am satisfied that we are less convinced by what we hear than by what we see.
—Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) Ancient Greek Historian
People look at you and me to see what they are supposed to be. And, if we don’t disappoint them, maybe, just maybe, they won’t disappoint us.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Children have more need of models than of critics.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Education consists of example and love—nothing else.
—Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827) Swiss Educator
Things to remember: 1) The worth of character; 2) The improvement of talent; 3) The influence of example; 4) The joy of origination; 5) The dignity of simplicity; 6) The success of perseverance.
—Marshall Field (1834–1906) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Philanthropist
Illustrious examples engross, prejudice, and intimidate. They engross our attention, and so prevent a due inspection of ourselves; they prejudice our judgment in favor of their abilities, and so lessen the sense of our own; and they intimidate us with the
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is infected by the licentious passions and vices of great men, so it is likewise reformed by their moderation.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Example is better than law.
—Arabic Proverb
Well done is better than well said.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
This, then, is the test we must set for ourselves; not to march alone but to march in such a way that others will wish to join us.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
There are bad examples that are worse than crimes; and more states have perished from the violation of morality than from the violation of law.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
He teaches me to be good that does me good.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Examples of vicious courses, practised in a domestic circle, corrupt more readily and more deeply, when we behold them in persons of authority.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Our lives, by acts exemplary, not only win ourselves good names, but do to others give matter for virtuous deeds, by which we live.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
Don’t wait to be a great man—be a great boy.
—Unknown
The road to learning by precept is long, but by example short and effective.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Every great example takes hold of us with the authority of a miracle, and says to us, “If ye had but faith, ye, also, could do the same things.”
—Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1743–1819) German Philosopher
If birds of a feather flock together, they don’t learn enough.
—Robert Half
Though “the words of the wise be as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies,” yet their examples are the hammer to drive them in to take the deeper hold. A father that whipped his son for swearing, and swore himself whilst he whipped him, did more harm by his example than good by his correction.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Children are natural mimics—they act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners.
—Unknown
Setting too good an Example is a Kind of slander seldom forgiven.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Example is the greatest of all seducers.
—French Proverb
Don’t be just another member of society, be a living example of your dreams and goals.
—Unknown
We are too quick to imitate depraved examples.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
It is certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of another; therefore let men take heed of their company.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Example has more followers than reason.—We unconsciously imitate what pleases us, and approximate to the characters we most admire.—A generous habit of thought and action carries with it an incalculable influence.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
The presence of a noble nature, generous in its wishes, ardent in its charity, changes the lights for us: we begin to see things again in their larger, quieter masses, and to believe that we too can be seen and judged in the wholeness of our character.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Education commences at the mother’s knee, and every word spoken in the hearing of little children tends toward the formation of character.—Let parents always bear this in mind.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
Precept is instruction written in the sand.—The tide flows over it, and the record is gone.—Example is graven on the rock, and the lesson is not soon lost.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.
—Robert Fulghum (b.1937) American Unitarian Universalist Author, Essayist, Clergyman
A world of mischief may be done by a single example of avarice or luxury.—One voluptuous palate makes many more.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears.—The effect of precepts is, therefore, slow and tedious, while that of examples is summary and effectual.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
For what is done or learned by one class of women becomes, by virtue of their common womanhood, the property of all women.
—Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) American Physician
I don’t know any other way to lead but by example.
—Don Shula (1930–2020) American Football Coach
We are all of us more or less echoes, repeating involuntarily the virtues, the defects, the movements, and the characters of those among whom we live.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Live with wolves, and you will learn to howl.
—Spanish Proverb