To be a man’s own fool is bad enough; but the vain man is everybody’s.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
Vanity makes men ridiculous, pride odious, and ambition terrible.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
We speak little if not egged on by vanity.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Vanity indeed is a venial error; for it usually carries its own punishment with it.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
It is our own vanity that makes the vanity of others intolerable to us.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Nothing so soothes our vanity as a display of greater vanity in others; it make us vain, in fact, of our modesty.
—Louis Kronenberger (1904–80) American Drama, Literary Critic
Every occasion will catch the senses of the vain man, and with that bridle and saddle you may ride him.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Alas for human nature, that the wounds of vanity should smart and bleed so much longer than the wounds of affection!
—Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay (1800–59) English Historian, Essayist, Philanthropist
Vanity plays lurid tricks with our memory.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Vanity is so anchored in the heart of man that a soldier, sutler, cook, street porter, vapor and wish to have their admirers; and philosophers even wish the same. Those who write against it wish to have the glory of having written well; and those who read it wish to have the glory of having read well; and I, who write this, have perhaps this desire; and perhaps those who will read this.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Vanity is a natural object of temptation to a woman.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Vanity makes us do more things against inclination than reason.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
She neglects her heart who studies her glass.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Offended vanity is the great separator in social life.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) English Dramatist, Essayist
There is also this benefit in brag, that the speaker is unconsciously expressing his own ideal. Humor him by all means, draw it all out, and hold him to it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Whatever accomplishment you boast of in the world, there is someone better than you.
—African Proverb
Cure yourself of the affliction of caring how you appear to others. Concern yourself only with how you appear before God, concern yourself only with the idea that God may have of you.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
Man that is of woman born is apt to be as vain has his mother.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Vanity is so closely allied to virtue, and to love the fame of laudable actions approaches so near the love of laudable actions for their own sake, that these passions are more capable of mixture than any other kinds of affection; and it is almost impossible to have the latter without some degree of the former.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Every man has just as much vanity as he wants understanding.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Vanity is the quicksand of reason.
—George Sand (1804–76) French Novelist, Dramatist
See the man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Pride makes us esteem ourselves; vanity to desire the esteem of others.—It is just to say as Swift has done, that a proud man is too proud to be vain.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
Vanity is as ill at ease under indifference as tenderness is under a love which it cannot return.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Vanity dies hard; in some obstinate cases it outlives the man.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
What vanity needs for its satisfaction is glory, and it’s easy to have glory without power.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The common practice of keeping up appearances with society is a mere selfish struggle of the vain with the vain.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
The vanity of others runs counter to our taste only when it runs counter to our vanity.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Every other enjoyment malice may destroy; every other panegyric envy may withhold; but no human power can deprive the boaster of his own encomiums.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
All is vanity, look you; and so the preacher is vanity too.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
There is no restraining men’s tongues or pens when charged with a little vanity.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
If you done it, it ain’t bragging.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Never expect justice from a vain man; if he has the negative magnanimity not to disparage you, it is the most you can expect.
—Washington Allston (1779–1843) American Landscape Painter
We are so presumptuous that we wish to be known to all the world, even to those who come after us; and we are so vain that the esteem of five or six persons immediately around us is enough to amuse and satisfy us.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Self-love is a balloon filled with wind, from which storms burst forth when one makes a puncture in it.
—Unknown
Vanity costs money, labor, horses, men, women, health and peace, and is still nothing at last,—a long way leading nowhere.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
At very best, a person wrapped up in himself makes a small package.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
Vanity is not half a bad principle, if it will but stick to legitimate business.
—Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796–1865) Canadian Author, Humorist, Businessperson, Judge
He had only one vanity; he thought he could give advice better than any other person
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The most violent passions have their intermissions; vanity alone gives us no respite.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Without this ridiculous vanity that takes the form of self-display, and is part of everything and everyone, we would see nothing, and nothing would exist.
—Antonio Porchia (1885–1968) Italian Poet
Ostentation is the signal flag of hypocrisy.—The charlatan is verbose and assumptive; the Pharisee is ostentatious, because he is a hypocrite.—Pride is the master sin of the devil, and the devil is the father of lies.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.
—Unknown
Gray hairs are death’s blossoms.
—Common Proverb
Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.
—Johnny Unitas (1933–2002) American Football Player
As regards this vice, we read that the peacock is more guilty of it than any other animal. For it is always contemplating the beauty of its tail, which it spreads in the form of a wheel, and by its cries attracts to itself the gaze of the creatures that surround it. And this is the last vice to be conquered.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
Whatever is done without ostentation, and without the people being witnesses of it, is, in my opinion, most praiseworthy: not that the public eye should be entirely avoided, for good actions desire to be placed in the light; but notwithstanding this, the greatest theater for virtue is conscience.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
There is no arena in which vanity displays itself under such a variety of forms as in conversation.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian