If a man has a quarrelsome temper, let him alone. The world will soon find him employment. He will soon meet with some one stronger than himself, who will repay him better than you can. A man may fight duels all his life, if he is disposed to quarrel.
—Richard Cecil
Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason.
—Orson Welles (1915–85) American Film Director, Actor
He was so generally civil that nobody thanked him for it.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man’s venom poisons himself more than his victim.
—Charles Buxton (1823–71) British Politician, Writer
Don’t hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting, but never hit soft.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Historian, Political Leader, Explorer
Unsociable humors are contracted in solitude, which will, in the end, not fail of corrupting the understanding as well as the manners, and of utterly disqualifying a man for the satisfactions and duties of life. Men must be taken as they are, and we neither make them or ourselves better by flying from or quarreling with them.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Good temper is an estate for life.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Stay away from the ones you love too much. Those are the ones who will kill you.
—Donna Tartt (b.1963) American Novelist
Temperament is but the atmosphere of character, while its groundwork in nature is fixed and unchangeable.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) British Essayist, Historian
One who restrains his temper, all his sins meet forgiveness.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its greatest countenance in its lowest estate.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
A man who cannot command his temper should not think of being a man of business.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
When you’re in the right, you can afford to keep your temper. When in the wrong, you can’t afford to lose it.
—Unknown
More than half the difficulties of the world would be allayed or removed by the exhibition of good temper.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) British Essayist, Historian
The worst-tempered people I’ve ever met were people who knew they were wrong.
—Wilson Mizner (1876–1933) American Dramatist
Temper, if ungoverned, governs the whole man.
—Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–83) English Statesman
Good temper is one of the greatest preservers of the features.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
A tart temper never mellows with age; and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener and sharper with constant use.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
Those who are surly and imperious to their inferiors are generally humble, flattering, and cringing to their superiors.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Civility costs nothing.
—Common Proverb
Most people give off as much heat as a 100 watt bulb, but not as much light.
—Unknown
Courtesy of temper, when it is used to veil churlishness of deed, is but a knight’s girdle around the breast of a base clown.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Take care; you know I am compliance itself, when I am not thwarted! No one more easily led, when I have my own way; but don’t put me in a frenzy.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
Avoid letting temper block progress-keep cool.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
It is an unhappy, and yet I fear a true reflection, that they who have uncommon easiness and softness of temper have seldom very noble and nice sensations of soul.
—George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746–1816) British Nobleman, Politician
I have never known anyone worth a damn who wasn’t irascible.
—Ezra Pound (1885-1972) American Poet, Translator, Critic
Nothing does reason more right, than the coolness of those that offer it: For Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
A fretful temper will divide the closest knot that may be tied, by ceaseless sharp corrosion; a temper passionate and fierce may suddenly your joys disperse at one immense explosion.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Through certain humors or passions, and from temper merely, a man may be completely miserable, let his outward circumstances be ever so fortunate.
—Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–83) English Statesman
Many people lose their tempers merely from seeing you keep yours.
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925) American Encyclopedia Editor, Essayist
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