By common consent gray hairs are a crown of glory; the only object of respect that can never excite envy.
—George Bancroft (1800–91) American Historian, Politician
Every occasion will catch the senses of the vain man, and with that bridle and saddle you may ride him.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
As individuals and as a nation, we now suffer from social narcissism. The beloved Echo of our ancestors, the virgin America, has been abandoned. We have fallen in love with our own image, with images of our making, which turn out to be images of ourselves.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney, Writer
Charms which, like flowers, lie on the surface and always glitter, easily produce vanity; hence women, wits, players, soldiers, are vain, owing to their presence, figure, and dress. On the contrary, other excellences, which lie down deep like gold, and are discovered with difficulty—strength, profoundness of intellect, morality—leave their possessors modest and proud.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Beauty’s sister is vanity, and its daughter lust.
—Common Proverb
Vanity and dignity are incompatible with each other; vain women are almost sure to be vulnerable.
—Alfred de Musset (1810–57) French Dramatist, Poet, Novelist
Vanity makes men ridiculous, pride odious, and ambition terrible.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
A man’s vanity tells him what is honor, a man’s conscience what is justice.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.
—Alexander Hamilton (c.1757–1804) American Federalist Politician, Statesman
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
Conceit is God’s gift to little men.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
He had only one vanity; he thought he could give advice better than any other person
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
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
People who are very vain are usually equally susceptible; and they who feel one thing acutely, will so feel another.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Curiosity is only vanity. Most frequently we wish not to know, but to talk. We would not take a sea voyage for the sole pleasure of seeing without hope of ever telling.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
When we are conscious of the least comparative merit in ourselves, we should take as much care to conceal the value we set upon it as if it were a real defect; to be elated or vain upon it is showing your money before people in want.
—Colley Cibber (1671–1757) English Playwright, Poet, Actor
Vanity makes us do more things against inclination than reason.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
No man thinks there is much ado about nothing when the ado is about himself.
—Anthony Trollope (1815–82) English Novelist
Nothing so soothes our vanity as a display of greater vanity in others; it make us vain, in fact, of our modesty.
—Louis Kronenberger (1904–80) American Drama, Literary Critic
There is more jealousy between rival wits than rival beauties, for vanity has no sex. But in both cases there must be pretensions, or there will be no jealousy.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
O Vanity, how little is thy force acknowledged, or thy operations discerned! How wantonly dost thou deceive mankind, under different disguises!—Sometimes thou dost wear the face of pity; sometimes of generosity; nay, thou hast the assurance to put on those glorious ornaments which belong only to heroic virtue.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Never expect justice from a vain man; if he has the negative magnanimity not to disparage you, it is the most you can expect.
—Washington Allston (1779–1843) American Landscape Painter
Vanity is a motive of immense potency.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Whatever is done without ostentation, and without the people being witnesses of it, is, in my opinion, most praiseworthy: not that the public eye should be entirely avoided, for good actions desire to be placed in the light; but notwithstanding this, the greatest theater for virtue is conscience.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Self-love is a balloon filled with wind, from which storms burst forth when one makes a puncture in it.
—Unknown
If I cannot brag of knowing something, then I brag of not knowing it; at any rate, brag.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Vanity is not half a bad principle, if it will but stick to legitimate business.
—Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796–1865) Canadian Author, Humorist, Businessperson, Judge
There is no folly of which a man who is not a fool cannot get rid except vanity; of this nothing cures a man except experience of its bad consequences, if indeed anything can cure it.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
It is possible to have a strong self-love without any self-satisfaction, rather with a self-discontent which is the more intense because one’s own little core of egoistic sensibility is a supreme care.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist