Our disputants put me in mind of the cuttlefish that, when he is unable to extricate himself, blackens the water about him till he becomes invisible.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. This principle is contempt prior to examination.
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English Polymath, Philosopher, Sociologist, Political Theorist
She looked as if she had been poured into her clothes and had forgotten to say ‘when.’
—P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) British Novelist, Short-story Writer, Playwright
Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none although they give occasion.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Let nobody speak mischief of anybody.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Obscenity is whatever happens to shock some elderly and ignorant magistrate.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Every one in a crowd has the power to throw dirt; none out of ten have the inclination.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
I will make a bargain with the Republicans. If they will stop telling lies about Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
It is a strange desire, to seek power and lose liberty, or to seek power over others and to lose power over a man’s self. The rising unto place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains, and it is sometimes base; and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a downfall or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy thing.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
She looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Little enemies and little wounds must not be despised.
—Common Proverb
To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
Rebukes are easy from our betters,
From men of quality and letters;
But when low dunces will affront,
What man alive can stand the brunt?
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Slander cannot destroy the man … when the flood recedes, the rock is there.
—Chinese Proverb
Young people soon give, and forget insults, but old age is slow in both.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The habit of sneering marks the egotist, the fool, or the knave, or all three.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Slander expires at a good woman’s door.
—Danish Proverb
There are two insults no human will endure: the assertion that he has no sense of humor and the doubly impertinent assertion that he has never known trouble.
—Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
A thick skin is a gift from God.
—Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967) German Statesman
He who puts up with insult invites injury.
—Yiddish Proverb
A generous confession disarms slander.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Her face was her chaperone.
—Rupert Hughes (1872–1956) American Historian, Novelist, Film Director, Composer
Slanderers do not hurt me because they do not hit me.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Some people are like Slinkies… not really good for anything, but you still can’t help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.
—Unknown
I am about courting a girl I have had but little acquaintance with. How shall I come to a knowledge of her faults, and whether she has the virtues I imagine she has? Answer. Commend her among her female acquaintances.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
O!, many a shaft at random sent
Finds mark the archer little meant!
And many a word at random spoken
May soothe, or wound, a heart that ‘s broken!
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can’t ignore it, top it; if you can’t top it, laugh at it; if you can’t laugh at it, it’s probably deserved.
—Russell Lynes (1910–91) American Art Historian, Photographer, Author, Editor
O, she is the antidote to desire.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Even rabbits insult an dead lion.
—Common Proverb
No one is safe from slander. The best way is to pay no attention to it, but live in innocence and let the world talk.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
I’ve had a wonderful evening – but this wasn’t it.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
It is a weakness of your human nature to hate those whom you have wronged.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Man is much more sensitive to the contempt of others than to self-contempt.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The slanders poured down like Niagara. If you take into consideration the setting—the war and the revolution—and the character of the accused—revolutionary leaders of millions who were conducting their party to the sovereign power—you can say without exaggeration that July 1917 was the month of the most gigantic slander in world history.
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary
Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Coolidge was known for his terse speech and reticence. A woman bet her friend that she could get Coolidge to speak to her, which was something he was reluctant to do. She went up to him and said: “Hello, Mr. President, I bet my friend that I could get you to say three words to me”. “You lose,” Coolidge replied dryly, and walked away.
—Unknown
It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
What is said of a man is nothing. The point is, who says it.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Insults should be well avenged or well endured.
—Scottish Proverb
A graceful taunt is worth a thousand insults.
—Louis Nizer (1902–1994) American Lawyer, Author
Backbite: To “speak of a man as you find him” when he can’t find you.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Write your injuries in dust, your benefits in marble.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A man calumniated is doubly injured—first by him who utters the calumny, and then by him who believes it.
—Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) Ancient Greek Historian
You will find that silence or very gentle words are the most exquisite revenge for insult.
—Indian Proverb
Rudeness is better than any argument; it totally eclipses intellect.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Just the omission of Jane Austen’s books alone would make a fairly good library out of a library that hadn’t a book in it.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist