Contraries are cured by contraries.
—Common Proverb
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
The wolf changes his coat, but not his disposition.
—Common Proverb
Many people love in themselves what they hate in others.
—E. F. Schumacher (1911–77) German Mathematician, Economist
Everyone is bound to bear patiently the results of his own behavior.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
With a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and with a fraud I try to be a fraud and a half.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) German Chancellor, Prime Minister
To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say.
—Rene Descartes (1596–1650) French Mathematician, Philosopher
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
The greater part of what my neighbors call good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well? You may say the wisest thing you can, old man,—you who have lived seventy years, not without honor of a kind,—I hear an irresistible voice which invites me away from all that.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
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
Oddities and singularities of behavior may attend genius, but when they do, they are its misfortunes and blemishes.—The man of true genius will be ashamed of them, or, at least, will never affect to be distinguished by them.
—William Temple (1881–1944) British Clergyman, Theologian
Of course, behaviorism works. So does torture. Give me a no-nonsense, down-to-earth behaviorist, a few drugs, and simple electrical appliances, and in six months I will have him reciting the Athanasian Creed in public.
—W. H. Auden (1907–73) British-born American Poet, Dramatist
The man of character, sensitive to the meaning of what he is doing, will know how to discover the ethical paths in the maze of possible behavior.
—Earl Warren (1891–1974) American Judge, Politician
The test of one’s behavior pattern; relationship to society, relationship to one’s work, relationship to sex.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
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
Still people are dangerous.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
People who have little to do are excessive talkers.
—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
Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.
—George W. Crane (1901–95) American Psychologist, Physician
The world of the happy is quite different from that of the unhappy.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference.
—Cesare Pavese (1908–50) Italian Novelist, Poet, Critic, Translator
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
Our humanity rests upon a series of learned behaviors, woven together into patterns that are infinitely fragile and never directly inherited.
—Margaret Mead (1901–78) American Anthropologist, Social Psychologist
The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
What is becoming in behavior is honorable, and what is honorable is becoming.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
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
Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Behavior is a mirror in which everyone displays his image.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
It is the unseen and the spiritual in people that determines the outward and the actual.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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
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
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
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
Physics does not change the nature of the world it studies, and no science of behavior can change the essential nature of man, even though both sciences yield technologies with a vast power to manipulate the subject matters.
—B. F. Skinner (1904–90) American Psychologist, Social Philosopher, Inventor, Author
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
What we are doing at the moment is more that just one thing added to the rest; it is a memoir.
—Unknown
We practically always excuse things when we understand them
—Mikhail Lermontov (1814–41) Russian Novelist, Poet
A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectively on sympathy, education, and social relationships; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
A man that is well ordered in his soul needeth little the unkind demeanor of worldly people nor yet their proud behavior.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
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
Behavior is what a man does, not what he thinks, feels, or believes
—Unknown
It’s no use growing older if you only learn new ways of misbehaving yourself.
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian
People’s behavior makes sense if you think about it in terms of their goals, needs, and motives.
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955) German Novelist, Short Story Writer, Social Critic, Philanthropist, Essayist
I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word—politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit.
—Emma Thompson (b.1959) British Actress, Screenwriter, Activist
We Barbie dolls are not supposed to behave the way I do.
—Sharon Stone (b.1958) American Actor
Acceptance of others, their looks, their behaviors, their beliefs, brings you an inner peace and tranquillity instead of anger and resentment.
—Anonymous
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
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
We like to see others, but don’t like others to see through us.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer