If you cannot mould yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Tolerance is another word for indifference.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Minds are like parachutes—they only function when open.
—Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar (1864–1930) Scottish Businessperson
Support the aged without reference to religion; respect the learned without reference to age.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Tolerance is a very dull virtue. It is boring. Unlike love, it has always had a bad press. It is negative. It merely means putting up with people, being able to stand things.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
The greatest problem in the world today is intolerance. Everyone is so intolerant of each other.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
Intolerance is the “Do Not Touch” sign on something that cannot bear touching. We do not mind having our hair ruffled, but we will not tolerate any familiarity with the toupee which covers our baldness.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
Through the centuries, the history of peoples is but a lesson in mutual tolerance.
—Emile Zola (1840–1902) French Novelist
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Light came to me when I realized that I did not have to consider any racial group as a whole. God made them duck by duck and that was the only way I could see them.
—Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) American Novelist
There is a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
I have seen great intolerance shown in support of tolerance.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Nothing dies so hard, or rallies so often as intolerance.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Whereas each man claims his freedom as a matter of right, the freedom he accords to other men is a matter of toleration.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
I’m quite sure that … I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. Indeed, I know it. I can stand any society. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being—that is enough for me he can’t be any worse.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Toleration is good for all, or it is good for none.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
The greatest and noblest pleasure which men can have in this world is to discover new truths; and the next is to shake off old prejudices.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) Prussian Monarch
Until you have learned to be tolerant with those who do not always agree with you; until you have cultivated the habit of saying some kind word of those whom you do not admire; until you have formed the habit of looking for the good instead of the bad there is in others, you will be neither successful nor happy.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
I think we have to own the fears that we have of each other, and then, in some practical way, some daily way, figure out how to see people differently than the way we were brought up to.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor—it requires only that they live together with mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Persecution was at least a sign of personal interest. Tolerance is composed of nine parts of apathy to one of brotherly love.
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925) American Encyclopedia Editor, Essayist
When travelling with someone, take large doses of patience and tolerance with your morning coffee
—Helen Hayes (1900–93) American Actress, Philanthropist
Do you want a sign that you’re asleep? Here it is: you’re suffering. Suffering is a sign that you’re out of touch with the truth. Suffering is given to you that you might open your eyes to the truth, that you might understand that there’s falsehood somewhere, just as physical pain is given to you so you will understand that there is disease or illness somewhere. Suffering occurs when you clash with reality. When your illusions clash with reality, when your falsehoods clash with truth, then you have suffering. Otherwise there is no suffering.
—Anthony de Mello (1931–87) Indian-born American Theologian
Intolerance respecting other people’s religion is toleration itself in comparison with intolerance respecting other people’s art.
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) American Poet
In university they don’t tell you that the greater part of the law is learning to tolerate fools.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
Intolerance betrays want of faith in one’s cause.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic