Any affectation whatsoever in dress implies, in my mind, a flaw in the understanding.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
I by no means rank poetry high in the scale of intelligence—this may look like affectation but it is my real opinion. It is the lava of the imagination whose eruption prevents an earthquake.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
All affectation; ’tis my perfect scorn;
Object of my implacable disgust.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Affectation in any part of our carriage is but the lighting up of a candle to show our defects, and never fails to make us taken notice of, either as wanting in sense or sincerity.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
The thing is plain. All that men really understand, is confined to a very small compass; to their daily affairs and experience; to what they have an opportunity to know, and motives to study or practice. The rest is affectation and imposture.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
The unaffected of every country nearly resemble each other, and a page of Confucius and Tillotson have scarce any material difference, paltry affectation, strained allusions, and disgusting finery are easily attained by those who choose to wear them; they are but too frequently the badges of ignorance or of stupidity whenever it would endeavor to please.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
We are never so ridiculous from the habits we have as from those that we affect to have.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Affectation is certain deformity.—By forming themselves on fantastic models the young begin with being ridiculous, and often end in being vicious.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
One of the best temporary cures for pride and affection is seasickness; a man who wants to vomit never puts on airs.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess, and to gain applause which he cannot keep.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humour of a scholar
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Affectation lights a candle to our defects, and though it may gratify ourselves, it disgusts all others.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Great cultural changes begin in affectation and end in routine.
—Jacques Barzun (b.1907) American Cultural Historian, Philosopher
Among the numerous stratagems by which pride endeavors to recommend folly to regard, there is scarcely one that meets with less success than affectation, or a perpetual disguise of the real character by fictitious appearances.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Affectation is a very good word when someone does not wish to confess to what he would none the less like to believe of himself.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
It is indeed not easy to distinguish affectation from habit; he that has once studiously developed a style, rarely writes afterwards with complete ease.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Affectation hides three times as many virtues as charity does sins.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
All affectation is the vain and ridiculous attempt of poverty to appear rich.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
The tenor’s voice is spoilt by affectation, And for the bass, the beast can only bellow; In fact, he had no singing education, An ignorant, noteless, timeless, tuneless fellow
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Avoid all singularity and affectation.—What is according to nature is best, while what is contrary to it is always distasteful. Nothing is graceful that is not our own.
—Jeremy Collier (1650–1726) Anglican Church Historian, Clergyman
Affectation proceeds from one of these two causes,—vanity or hypocrisy; for as vanity puts us on affecting false characters, in order to purchase applause; so hypocrisy sets us on an endeavor to avoid censure, by concealing our vices under an appearance of their opposite virtues.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Affectation is an awkward and forced imitation of what should be genuine and easy, wanting the beauty that accompanies what is natural.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
Great vices are the proper objects of our detestation, smaller faults of our pity, but affectation appears to be the only true source of the ridiculous
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
In all the professions every one affects a particular look and exterior, in order to appear what he wishes to be thought; so that it may be said the world is made up of appearances
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Don’t laugh at a youth for his affectations; he’s only trying on one face after another till he finds his own
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
I must confess I am a fop in my heart; ill customs influence my very senses, and I have been so used to affectation that without the help of the air of the court what is natural cannot touch me.
—George Etherege (c.1635–91) English Dramatist
Cowardice and courage are never without a measure of affectation. Nor is love. Feelings are never true. They play with their mirrors.
—Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) French Sociologist, Philosopher
Affection endeavors to correct natural defects, and has always the laudable aim of pleasing, though it always misses it.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
We are never rendered so ridiculous by qualities which we possess, as by those which we aim at, or affect to have.
—French Proverb
Your virtue is your greatest affectation.
—William Wycherley (c.1640–1716) English Dramatist
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