Little enemies and little wounds must not be despised.
—Common Proverb
I have no right, by anything I do or say, to demean a human being in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him; it is what he thinks of himself. To undermine a man’s self-respect is a sin.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
Every one in a crowd has the power to throw dirt; none out of ten have the inclination.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
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
The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Write your injuries in dust, your benefits in marble.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Obscenity is whatever happens to shock some elderly and ignorant magistrate.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
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
Be thou chaste as ice, and pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
What is said of a man is nothing. The point is, who says it.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none although they give occasion.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
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
She looked as if she had been poured into her clothes and had forgotten to say ‘when.’
—P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) British Novelist, Short-story Writer, Playwright
There is nothing that people bear more impatiently, or forgive less, than contempt: and an injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
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
I’ve had a wonderful evening – but this wasn’t it.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
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
Let nobody speak mischief of anybody.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
You will find that silence or very gentle words are the most exquisite revenge for insult.
—Indian Proverb
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The slanders poured down like Niagara. If you take into consideration the setting—the war and the revolution—and the character of the accused—revolutionary leaders of millions who were conducting their party to the sovereign power—you can say without exaggeration that July 1917 was the month of the most gigantic slander in world history.
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary
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
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. This principle is contempt prior to examination.
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English Polymath, Philosopher, Sociologist, Political Theorist
Yes, Agassiz does recommend authors to eat fish, because the phosphorus in it makes brain. So far you are correct. But I cannot help you to a decision about the amount you need to eat – at least, not with certainty. If the specimen composition you send is about your fair usual average, I should judge that a couple of whales would be all you would want for the present. Not the largest kind, but simply good middling-sized whales.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
A thick skin is a gift from God.
—Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967) German Statesman
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
Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
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
Some people are like Slinkies… not really good for anything, but you still can’t help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.
—Unknown
There are two insults no human will endure: the assertion that he has no sense of humor and the doubly impertinent assertion that he has never known trouble.
—Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
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
In nine times out of ten, the slanderous tongue belongs to a disappointed person.
—George Bancroft (1800–91) American Historian, Politician
Oppression is more easily borne than insult.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
Even rabbits insult an dead lion.
—Common Proverb
A graceful taunt is worth a thousand insults.
—Louis Nizer (1902–1994) American Lawyer, Author
Young people soon give, and forget insults, but old age is slow in both.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Insults should be well avenged or well endured.
—Scottish Proverb
He who does not shield himself from vilification receives it.
—Arabic Proverb
She looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Slander expires at a good woman’s door.
—Danish Proverb
It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
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
A man calumniated is doubly injured—first by him who utters the calumny, and then by him who believes it.
—Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) Ancient Greek Historian
Her face was her chaperone.
—Rupert Hughes (1872–1956) American Historian, Novelist, Film Director, Composer
The first human being who hurled an insult instead of a stone was the founder of civilization.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
A generous confession disarms slander.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The habit of sneering marks the egotist, the fool, or the knave, or all three.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
It is a weakness of your human nature to hate those whom you have wronged.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian