Conceit in weakest bodies works the strongest.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
There is no restraining men’s tongues or pens when charged with a little vanity.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
To this principle of vanity, which philosophers call a mean one, and which I do not, I owe a great part of the figure which I have made in life.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Light vanity, insatiate cormorant, consuming means soon preys upon itself.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
He who is enamored of himself will at least have the advantage of being inconvenienced by few rivals.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Possibly, more people kill themselves and others out of hurt vanity than out of envy, jealousy, malice or desire for revenge.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
If vanity does not overthrow all our virtues, at least she makes them totter.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The general cry is against ingratitude, but the complaint is misplaced, it should be against vanity; none but direct villains are capable of wilful ingratitude; but almost everybody is capable of thinking he hath done more than another deserves, while the other thinks he hath received less than he deserves.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
The vainest woman is never thoroughly conscious of her beauty till she is loved by the man who sets her own passion vibrating in return.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Vanity is a strange passion; rather than be out of a job it will brag of its vices.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Pride makes us esteem ourselves; vanity to desire the esteem of others.—It is just to say as Swift has done, that a proud man is too proud to be vain.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
What is the vanity of the vainest man compared with the vanity which the most modest possesses when, in the midst of nature and the world, he feels himself to be “man”!
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
If you done it, it ain’t bragging.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Vanity is a natural object of temptation to a woman.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
In heaven I yearn for knowledge, account all else inanity;
On earth I confess an itch for the praise of fools – that’s vanity.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
Vanity, I am sensible, is my cardinal vice and cardinal folly; and I am in continual danger, when in company, of being led an ignis fatuus chase by it.
—John Adams (1735–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Virtue would not go to such lengths if vanity did not keep her company.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
In a vain man, the smallest spark may kindle into the greatest flame, because the materials are always prepared for it.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Vanity may be likened to the smooth-skinned and velvet-footed mouse, nibbling about forever in expectation of a crumb; while self-esteem is too apt to take the likeness of the huge butcher’s dog, who carries off your steaks, and growls at you as he goes.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
Vanity and rudeness are seldom seen together.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don’t care for.
—Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian Novelist
Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
What makes vanity so insufferable to us, is that it hurts our own.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
If you cannot inspire a woman with love of yourself, fill her above the brim with love of herself; all that runs over will be yours.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Self-love is a balloon filled with wind, from which storms burst forth when one makes a puncture in it.
—Unknown
Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter, wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor, and to others who are within his sphere of action: and therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among the other comforts of life.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
They say that hens do cackle loudest when there is nothing vital in the eggs they have laid.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Vanity keeps persons in favor with themselves who are out of favor with all others.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Narcissus does not fall in love with his reflection because it is beautiful, but because it is his. If it were his beauty that enthralled him, he would be set free in a few years by its fading.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
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