Example is more forcible than precept.—People look at my six days in the week to see what I mean on the seventh.
—Richard Cecil
Precept guides, but example draws.
—Common Proverb
Precept is instruction written in the sand.—The tide flows over it, and the record is gone.—Example is graven on the rock, and the lesson is not soon lost.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
The world is upheld by the veracity of good men: they make the earth wholesome. They who lived with them found life glad and nutritious. Life is sweet and tolerable only in our belief in such society.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private citizens will occasionally kill theirs.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher and better than themselves.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
We are in truth, more than half what we are by imitation. The great point is to choose good models and to study them with care.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
A man who lives right, and is right, has more power in his silence than another has by his words.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
The road to learning by precept is long, but by example short and effective.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The pulpit teaches to be honest, the marketplace trains to overreaching and fraud—Teaching has not a tithe of the efficacy of example and training.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Every great example takes hold of us with the authority of a miracle, and says to us, “If ye had but faith, ye, also, could do the same things.”
—Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1743–1819) German Philosopher
Nothing is so contagious as an example. We never do great good or evil without bringing about more of the same on the part of others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Example is a bright looking-glass, universal and for all shapes to look into.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Nothing is so contagious as example.—Never was any considerable good or evil done without producing it’s like.—We imitate good actions through emulation; and bad ones through the evil of our nature, which shame conceals, but example sets at liberty.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
We are all of us more or less echoes, repeating involuntarily the virtues, the defects, the movements, and the characters of those among whom we live.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
The first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example.
—Thomas Morell
Not the cry, but the flight of the wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow.
—Chinese Proverb
I don’t know any other way to lead but by example.
—Don Shula (1930–2020) American Football Coach
Example is not the main thing in influencing others—it’s the only thing.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Philosopher, Musician, Physician
Things to remember: 1) The worth of character; 2) The improvement of talent; 3) The influence of example; 4) The joy of origination; 5) The dignity of simplicity; 6) The success of perseverance.
—Marshall Field (1834–1906) American Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Businessperson
People look at you and me to see what they are supposed to be. And, if we don’t disappoint them, maybe, just maybe, they won’t disappoint us.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
Folks don’t like to have somebody around knowing more than they do. It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talking right, they’ve got to want to learn themselves, and when they don’t want to learn there’s nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.
—Harper Lee (1926–2016) American Novelist
Education consists of example and love—nothing else.
—Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827) Swiss Educator
A world of mischief may be done by a single example of avarice or luxury.—One voluptuous palate makes many more.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously, when we walk uprightly.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Example has more followers than reason.—We unconsciously imitate what pleases us, and approximate to the characters we most admire.—A generous habit of thought and action carries with it an incalculable influence.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
It is easier to exemplify values than teach them.
—Theodore Hesburgh (1917–2015) American Catholic Educator, Clergyman
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