He teaches me to be good that does me good.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Example is leadership.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
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
Others will follow your footsteps easier than they will your advice.
—Unknown
Children are natural mimics—they act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners.
—Unknown
Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
We are too quick to imitate depraved examples.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
A good example is the best sermon.
—Anonymous
Well done is better than well said.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Education consists of example and love—nothing else.
—Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827) Swiss Educator
Not the cry, but the flight of the wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow.
—Chinese Proverb
The presence of a noble nature, generous in its wishes, ardent in its charity, changes the lights for us: we begin to see things again in their larger, quieter masses, and to believe that we too can be seen and judged in the wholeness of our character.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity. The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
Examples of vicious courses, practised in a domestic circle, corrupt more readily and more deeply, when we behold them in persons of authority.
—Juvenal (c.60–c.136 CE) Roman Poet
Our lives, by acts exemplary, not only win ourselves good names, but do to others give matter for virtuous deeds, by which we live.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
For what is done or learned by one class of women becomes, by virtue of their common womanhood, the property of all women.
—Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) American Physician
Don’t be just another member of society, be a living example of your dreams and goals.
—Unknown
Friendship: Never explain—your friends do not need it, and your enemies will not believe it anyway. A real friend never gets in your way, unless you happen to be on the way down. A friend is someone you can do nothing with and enjoy it. However much we guard ourselves against it, we tend to shape ourselves in the image others have of us. It is not so much the example of others we imitate, as the reflection of ourselves in their eyes and the echo of ourselves in their words.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
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
Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
The greatest gift you and your partner can give your children is the example of an intimate, healthy, and loving relationship.
—Barbara De Angelis (b.1951) American Self-Help Author
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 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 first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example.
—Thomas Morell
Example is not the main thing in influencing others—it’s the only thing.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
There is no part of history which seems capable of either more instruction or entertainment, than that which offers to us the lives of great and virtuous men who have made an eminent figure on the public stage of the world. In these we see what the annals of a whole age can afford that is worthy of notice; and in the wide field of universal history gather all its flowers, and possess ourselves of all that is good in it.
—Conyers Middleton (1683–1750) English Clergyman, Theologian
Example moves the world more than doctrine. The great exemplars are the poets of action, and it makes little difference whether they be forces for good or forces for evil.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Practice what you preach.
—Common Proverb
You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.
—Robert Fulghum (b.1937) American Unitarian Universalist Author, Essayist, Clergyman
What you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
No rules exist, and examples are simply life-savers answering the appeals of rules making vain attempts to exist.
—Andre Breton (1896–1966) French Poet, Essayist, Critic
Noble examples stir us up to noble actions, and the very history of large and public souls inspires a man with generous thoughts.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
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
For example is not proof.
—Yiddish Proverb
Alexander received more bravery of mind by the pattern of Achilles, than by hearing the definition of fortitude.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously, when we walk uprightly.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Nothing is so infectious as example.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
It is a trite but true definition that examples work more forcibly on the mind than precepts.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
It is a good divine that follows his own instructions. I can easier teach twenty men what were good to be done, than to be one of twenty to follow mine own teaching.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.
—Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) Prussian German Philosopher, Logician
Example sheds a genial ray which men are apt to borrow, so first improve yourself today, and then your friends tomorrow.
—Unknown
It is certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of another; therefore let men take heed of their company.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Education commences at the mother’s knee, and every word spoken in the hearing of little children tends toward the formation of character.—Let parents always bear this in mind.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian