Each of us, face to face with other men, is clothed with some sort of dignity, but we know only too well all the unspeakable things that go on in the heart.
—Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936) Italian Dramatist, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Author
Life is an unanswered question, but let’s still believe in the dignity and importance of the question.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
A fit of anger is as fatal to dignity as a dose of arsenic is to life.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Editor, Novelist
Poverty won’t allow him to lift up his head;dignity won’t allow him to bow it down.
—African Proverb
It is more offensive to outshine in dignity than in personal attractions.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
The sum of behavior is to retain a man’s own dignity, without intruding upon the liberty of others.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Humility is the ability to give up your pride and still retain your dignity.
—Vanna Bonta (1958–2014) Italian-American Novelist, Poet, Actress
Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss.
—Doug Williams (b.1955) American Sportsperson, Football Executive
Dignity consists not in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Dignity is like a perfume; those who use it are scarcely conscious of it.
—Christina, Queen of Sweden (1626–89) Swedish Monarch
Pride and dignity would belong to women if only men would leave them alone
—Egyptian Proverb
Most of the men of dignity, who awe or bore their more genial brethren, are simply men who possess the art of passing off their insensibility for wisdom, their dullness for depth, and of concealing imbecility of intellect under haughtiness of manner.
—Edwin Percy Whipple (1819–86) American Literary Critic
Perhaps the only true dignity of man is his capacity to despise himself.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
—James A. Michener (1907–97) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Historian
The only kind of dignity which is genuine is that which is not diminished by the indifference of others.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
Men possessing minds which are morose, solemn, and inflexible, enjoy, in general, a greater share of dignity than of happiness.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
There is a healthful hardiness about real dignity that never dreads contact and communion with others, however humble.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
True dignity abides with him only, who, in the silent hour of inward thought, can still suspect, and still revere himself, in lowliness of heart.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
Let none presume to wear an undeserved dignity.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The ultimate end of all revolutionary social change is to establish the sanctity of human life, the dignity of man, the right of every human being to liberty and well-being.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
Dignity of position adds to dignity of character, as well as to dignity of carriage. Give us a proud position, and we are impelled to act up to it.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
There is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
All that passes is raised to the dignity of expression; all that happens is raised to the dignity of meaning. Everything is either symbol or parable.
—Paul Claudel (1868–1955) French Poet, Essayist, Dramatist
I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, human liberty as the source of national action, the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
The dignity of man is vindicated as much by the thinker and poet as by the statesman and soldier.
—James Bryant Conant (1893–1978) American Chemist, Educator
True dignity is never gained by place, and never lost when honors are withdrawn.
—Philip Massinger (1583–1640) English Playwright
No race can prosper ’til it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling the field, as in writing a poem.
—Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) African-American Educationist
Every man has his dignity. I’m willing to forget mine, but at my own discretion and not when someone else tells me to.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
We rise in glory, as we sink in pride:
Where boasting ends, there dignity begins.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
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