Earnestness is the devotion of all the faculties.—It is the cause of patience; gives endurance; overcomes pain; strengthens weakness; braves dangers; sustains hope; makes light of difficulties, and lessens the sense of weariness in overcoming them.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
I only desire sincere relations with the worthiest of my acquaintance, that they may give me an opportunity once in a year to speak the truth.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on self-examination.
—Mencius (c.371–c.289 BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Weak people cannot be sincere.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Prayer needs a heart, not a tongue.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Examine what is said, not him who speaks.
—Arabic Proverb
A ‘No’ uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Sincerity is not a spontaneous flower nor is modesty either.
—Colette (1873–1954) French Novelist, Performer
Gracious to all, to none subservient, Without offense he spoke the word he meant.
—Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836–1907) American Writer, Poet, Critic, Editor
Let us not be ashamed to speak what we shame not to think.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Candor is a proof of both a just frame of mind, and of a good tone of breeding. It is a quality that belongs equally to the honest man and to the gentleman.
—James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) American Novelist
Truth of a modest sort I can promise you, and also sincerity. That complete, praiseworthy sincerity which, while it delivers one into the hands of one’s enemies, is as likely as not to embroil one with one’s friends.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
If life must not be taken too seriously, then so neither must death.
—Samuel Butler
Can there be greater foolishness than the respect you pay to people collectively when you despise them individually?
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Sincerity and truth are the basis of every virtue.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
There is an unseemly exposure of the mind, as well as of the body.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Inward sincerity will of course influence the outward deportment; where the one is wanting, there is great reason to suspect the absence of the other.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
Sincerity is to speak as we think, to do as we pretend and profess, to perform what we promise, and really to be what we would seem and appear to be.
—John Tillotson
It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
We are very apt to measure ourselves by our aspiration instead of our performance. But in truth the conduct of our lives is the only proof of the sincerity of our hearts.
—Unknown
What people call insincerity is simply a method by which we can multiply our personalities.
—Unknown
Sincerity is the luxury allowed, like diadems and authority, only to the highest rank… . Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles; his love sincere, his thoughts immaculate; his tears, pure messengers sent from his heart; his heart as far from fraud, as heaven from earth.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Everyone says he’s sincere, but everyone isn’t sincere. If everyone was sincere who says he’s sincere there wouldn’t be half so many insincere ones in the world and there would be lots, lots, lots more really sincere ones!
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
Be always sincere in your yea and your nay.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
There is no substitute for thoroughgoing, ardent and sincere earnestness.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
Sincerity is impossible, unless it pervades the whole being, and the pretence of it saps the very foundation of character.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Those that vow the most are the least sincere.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
To be candid, in Middlemarch phraseology, meant, to use an early opportunity of letting your friends know that you did not take a cheerful view of their capacity, their conduct, or their position; and a robust candor never waited to be asked for its opinion.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
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