There never was any man so wicked as not to approve of gratitude and to detest ingratitude, as the two things in the whole world, the one to be the most esteemed, and the other the most abominated.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Ingratitude is the abridgment of all baseness; a fault never found unattended with other viciousness.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
He who eats and drinks, but blesses not the Lord, is even as he who stealeth.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Not to return one good office for another is inhuman; but to return evil for good is diabolical. There are too many even of this sort, who, the more they owe, the more they hate.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
A grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
He that forgets his friend is ungrateful to him; but he that forgets his Saviour is unmerciful to himself.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
Ungratefulness is the very poison of manhood.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
I hate ingratitude more in a person; than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, or, any taint of vice whose strong corruption inhabits our frail blood.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Nothing more detestable does the earth produce than an ungrateful man.
—Ausonius (c.309–392 CE) Latin Poet, Rhetorician
Despise not small favors.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Flints may be melted—we see it daily—but an ungrateful heart cannot be; not by the strongest and noblest flame.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
He that is ungrateful has no guilt but one; all other crimes may pass for virtues in him.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Ingratitude is monstrous; and for the multitude to be ungrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Ingratitude; thou marble-hearted fiend, more hideous when thou showest thee in a child, than the sea monster.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Filial ingratitude! Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand for lifting food to it.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
There neither is, or ever was, any person remarkably ungrateful, who was not also insufferably proud; nor any one proud, who was not equally ungrateful.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
When he was a puppy I fed him, and when he became a dog he bit me.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Blow, blow, thou winter wind, thou art not so unkind as man’s ingratitude.—Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, thou dost not bite so nigh, as benefits forgot.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We fancy we suffer from ingratitude, while in reality we suffer from self-love.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We seldom find people ungrateful as long as we are in a condition to render them services.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He who does a kindness to an ungrateful person, sets his seal to a flint and sows his seed upon the sand; on the former he makes no impression, and from the latter finds no product.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Into the well from which thou drinkest do not cast a stone.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
We can be thankful to a friend for a few acres, or a little money; and yet for the freedom and command of the whole earth, and for the great benefits of our being, our life, health, and reason, we look upon ourselves as under no obligation.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
When we would, with utmost detestation, single some monster from the traitor herd, ’tis but to say ingratitude is his crime.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
That’s the trouble with directors. Always biting the hand that lays the golden egg.
—Samuel Goldwyn (1879–1974) Polish-born American Film Producer, Businessperson
How black and base a vice ingratitude is, may be seen in those vices with which it is always in combination, pride and hard-heartedness, or want of compassion.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Brutes leave ingratitude to man.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
He that doth public good for multitudes, finds few are truly grateful.
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640) English Playwright
He that calls a man ungrateful, sums up all the evil of which one can be guilty.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
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