The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent tolerance; to a friend your heart; to your child a good example; to a father deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself respect; and to all men charity.
—Frances Balfour (1858–1931) British Women’s Activist
Example is the best precept.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
For example is not proof.
—Yiddish Proverb
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
They teach the morals of a whore, and the manners of a dancing master.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
No man is so insignificant as to be sure his example can do no hurt.
—Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–74) English Statesman, Historian
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
People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher and better than themselves.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
The conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them; their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
He that gives good advice, builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
It is easier to exemplify values than teach them.
—Theodore Hesburgh (1917–2015) American Catholic Educator, Clergyman
Children are natural mimics—they act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners.
—Unknown
A wise and good man will turn examples of all sorts to his own advantage. The good he will make his patterns, and strive to equal or excel them. The bad he will by all means avoid.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears.—The effect of precepts is, therefore, slow and tedious, while that of examples is summary and effectual.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
I am satisfied that we are less convinced by what we hear than by what we see.
—Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) Ancient Greek Historian
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
Live with wolves, and you will learn to howl.
—Spanish Proverb
Human models are more vivid and more persuasive than explicit moral commands.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney
If birds of a feather flock together, they don’t learn enough.
—Robert Half
What you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Practice what you preach.
—Common Proverb
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
Example is the greatest of all seducers.
—French Proverb
You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Example sheds a genial ray which men are apt to borrow, so first improve yourself today, and then your friends tomorrow.
—Unknown
Live as you wish your kids would.
—Unknown
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
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
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