Her face was her chaperone.
—Rupert Hughes (1872–1956) American Historian, Novelist, Film Director, Composer
She looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
It is a strange desire, to seek power and lose liberty, or to seek power over others and to lose power over a man’s self. The rising unto place is laborious, and by pains men come to greater pains, and it is sometimes base; and by indignities men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a downfall or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy thing.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Let nobody speak mischief of anybody.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
He who does not shield himself from vilification receives it.
—Arabic Proverb
Little enemies and little wounds must not be despised.
—Common Proverb
Coolidge was known for his terse speech and reticence. A woman bet her friend that she could get Coolidge to speak to her, which was something he was reluctant to do. She went up to him and said: “Hello, Mr. President, I bet my friend that I could get you to say three words to me”. “You lose,” Coolidge replied dryly, and walked away.
—Unknown
It is not he who gives abuse that affronts, but the view that we take of it as insulting; so that when one provokes you it is your own opinion which is provoking.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
A sneer is often the sign of heartless malignity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
A graceful taunt is worth a thousand insults.
—Louis Nizer (1902–1994) American Lawyer, Author
I am about courting a girl I have had but little acquaintance with. How shall I come to a knowledge of her faults, and whether she has the virtues I imagine she has? Answer. Commend her among her female acquaintances.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
If you can’t ignore an insult, top it; if you can’t top it, laugh it off; and if you can’t laugh it off, it’s probably deserved.
—Russell Lynes (1910–91) American Art Historian, Photographer, Author, Editor
Just the omission of Jane Austen’s books alone would make a fairly good library out of a library that hadn’t a book in it.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I love Wagner, but the music I prefer is that of a cat hung up by its tail outside a window and trying to stick to the panes of glass with its claws.
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–67) French Poet, Art Critic, Essayist, Translator
Our disputants put me in mind of the cuttlefish that, when he is unable to extricate himself, blackens the water about him till he becomes invisible.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
He who puts up with insult invites injury.
—Yiddish Proverb
The way to procure insults is to submit to them. A man meets with no more respect than he exacts.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
I will make a bargain with the Republicans. If they will stop telling lies about Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
The habit of sneering marks the egotist, the fool, or the knave, or all three.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Slander-mongers and those who listen to slander, if I had my way, would all be strung up, the talkers by the tongue, the listeners by the ears.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can’t ignore it, top it; if you can’t top it, laugh at it; if you can’t laugh at it, it’s probably deserved.
—Russell Lynes (1910–91) American Art Historian, Photographer, Author, Editor
It is often better not to see an insult than to avenge it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Slander cannot destroy the man … when the flood recedes, the rock is there.
—Chinese Proverb
O!, many a shaft at random sent
Finds mark the archer little meant!
And many a word at random spoken
May soothe, or wound, a heart that ‘s broken!
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Slanderers do not hurt me because they do not hit me.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
An insult is either sustained or destroyed, not by the disposition of those who insult, but by the disposition of those who bear it.
—John Chrysostom (c.347–407 CE) Archbishop of Constantinople
Insults should be well avenged or well endured.
—Scottish Proverb
I’ve had a wonderful evening – but this wasn’t it.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
Man is much more sensitive to the contempt of others than to self-contempt.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer