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
We want all our friends to tell us our bad qualities; it is only the particular ass that does so whom we can’t tolerate.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
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
A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant; one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity. The believing man is the original man; whatsoever he believes, he believes it for himself, not for another.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Sincerity may be humble, but she cannot be servile.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
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
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
Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
There is no substitute for thoroughgoing, ardent and sincere earnestness.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
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
Not to expose your true feelings to an adult seems to be instinctive from the age of seven or eight onwards.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
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
Gracious to all, to none subservient, Without offense he spoke the word he meant.
—Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836–1907) American Writer, Poet, Critic, Editor
Those that vow the most are the least sincere.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
Weak people cannot be sincere.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
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
The way I see it, it doesn’t matter what you believe just so you’re sincere.
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
Prayer needs a heart, not a tongue.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
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
It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
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
The great man fights the elements in his time that hinder his own greatness, in other words his own freedom and sincerity.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Be always sincere in your yea and your nay.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
What is earnest is not always true; on the contrary, error is often more earnest than truth.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be; and if we observe, we shall find, that all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
You know I say just what I think, and nothing more nor less.—I cannot say one thing and mean another.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Sincerity is like traveling on a plain, beaten road, which commonly brings a man sooner to his journey’s end than by-ways, in which men often lose themselves.
—John Tillotson
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