What is becoming in behavior is honorable, and what is honorable is becoming.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Our natures are a lot like oil, mix us with anything else, and we strive to swim on top.
—Francis Beaumont (1584–1616) English Dramatist
Still people are dangerous.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Our thinking and our behaviour are always in anticipation of a response. It is therefore fear-based.
—Deepak Chopra (b.1946) Indian-born American Physician, Public Speaker, Writer
Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference.
—Cesare Pavese (1908–50) Italian Novelist, Poet, Critic, Translator
We Barbie dolls are not supposed to behave the way I do.
—Sharon Stone (b.1958) American Actor
An individual’s self-concept is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior: the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in life.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
Though our conduct seems so very different from that of the higher animals, the primary instincts are much alike in them and in us.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Everyone is bound to bear patiently the results of his own behavior.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
The “self-image” is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self image and you change the personality and the behavior.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
The wolf changes his coat, but not his disposition.
—Common Proverb
Levity of behavior is the bane of all that is good and virtuous.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
What is the appropriate behavior for a man or a woman in the midst of this world, where each person is clinging to his piece of debris? What’s the proper salutation between people as they pass each other in this flood?
—Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) Canadian Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Novelist
I don’t say we all ought to misbehave, but we ought to look as if we could.
—Orson Welles (1915–85) American Film Director, Actor
We practically always excuse things when we understand them
—Mikhail Lermontov (1814–41) Russian Novelist, Poet
Many people love in themselves what they hate in others.
—E. F. Schumacher (1911–77) German Mathematician, Economist
Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Behavior is what a man does, not what he thinks, feels, or believes
—Unknown
A consciousness of inward knowledge gives confidence to the outward behavior, which, of all things, is the best to grace a man in his carriage.
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say.
—Rene Descartes (1596–1650) French Mathematician, Philosopher
Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Contraries are cured by contraries.
—Common Proverb
Suppose that humans happen to be so constructed that they desire the opportunity for freely undertaken productive work. Suppose that they want to be free from the meddling of technocrats and commissars, bankers and tycoons, mad bombers who engage in psychological tests of will with peasants defending their homes, behavioral scientists who can’t tell a pigeon from a poet, or anyone else who tries to wish freedom and dignity out of existence or beat them into oblivion.
—Noam Chomsky (b.1928) American Linguist, Social Critic
It is the unseen and the spiritual in people that determines the outward and the actual.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
What ever is the natural propensity of a person is hard to overcome. If a dog were made a king, he would still gnaw at his shoes laces.
—The Hitopadesha Indian Collection of Fables
A mission could be defined as an image of a desired state that you want to get to. Once fully seen, it will inspire you to act, fuel your imagination and determine your behavior.
—Charles A. Garfield (b.1944) American Psychologist
Behavior which appears superficially correct but is intrinsically corrupt always irritates those who see below the surface
—James Bryant Conant (1893–1978) American Chemist, Educator
The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and helpful way toward one another.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The test of one’s behavior pattern; relationship to society, relationship to one’s work, relationship to sex.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist