48 quotes about Modesty

Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue.

Addison, Joseph

Conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty.

Alcott, Louisa May

Modesty is the conscience of the body.

Balzac, Honore De

No sex, age, or condition is above or below the absolute necessity of modesty; but without it one vastly beneath the rank of man.

Barton, Bruce

He seems determined to make a trumpet sound like a tin whistle.

Bevan, Aneurin

A vain man finds it wise to speak good or ill of himself; a modest man does not talk of himself.

Bruyere, Jean De La

She just wore enough for modesty; no more!

Buchanan, Robert

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Chesterfield, Lord

He is a modest little man who has a good deal to be modest about.

Churchill, Winston

That is the consolation of a little mind; you have the fun of changing it without impeding the progress of mankind.

Colby, Frank Moore

Modesty is the color of virtue.

Diogenes of Sinope

If there is anybody in this land who thoroughly believes that the meek shall inherit the earth they have not often let their presence be known.

Du Bois, William E. B.

To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.

Franklin, Benjamin

I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.

Gibran, Kahlil

Modesty is the chastity of merit, the virginity of noble souls.

Girardin, Madame de

Modesty seldom resides in a breast that is not enriched with nobler virtues.

Goldsmith, Oliver

Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a real confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others.

Hazlitt, William

No truly great person ever thought themselves so.

Hazlitt, William

I don't like to write like God. It is only because you never do it, though, that the critics think you can't do it.

Hemingway, Ernest

Modesty; the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.

Herford, Oliver

Usually the modest person passes for someone reserved, the silent for a sullen person

Horace

The modest person is usually admired, if people ever hear of them.

Howe, Edgar Watson

Great things happen in small places. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville.

Jackson, Jesse

Ornaments were invented by modesty.

Joubert, Joseph

So rare is the union of beauty with modesty.

Juvenal, (Decimus Junius Juvenalis)

The height of cleverness is being able to conceal it.

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De

Always remember when you are on top of the world , that the earth rotates every 24 hrs.

Makris, Steve G.

Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature, and may be either good or bad according to the actions performed from that motive.

Mandeville, Bernard

It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help

Manners, Miss

Fidelity to conscience is inconsistent with retiring modesty. If it be so, let the modesty succumb. It can be only a false modesty which can be thus endangered.

Martineau, Harriet

Be smart, but never show it.

Mayer, Louis B

Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my dear, kiss me and be quiet.

Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley

No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune.

Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley

Modesty is the beauty of women.

Proverb, Gaelic

Do not make yourself so big, you are not so small.

Proverb, Jewish

We must watch over our modesty in the presence of those who cannot understand its grounds.

Rostand, Jean

Although modesty is natural to man, it is not natural to children. Modesty only begins with the knowledge of evil.

Rousseau, Jean Jacques

Modesty forbids what the law does not.

Seneca

Lord Bacon told Sir Edward Coke when he was boasting, The less you speak of your greatness, the more shall I think of it.

Shakespeare, William

We wound our modesty and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them.

Shakespeare, William

Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked.

Sheridan, Richard Brinsley

I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty. But I am too busy thinking about myself.

Sitwell, Dame Edith

Nothing can atone for the lack of modesty; without which beauty is ungraceful and wit detestable.

Steele, Sir Richard

There's a lot to be said for the fellow who doesn't say it himself.

Switzer, Maurice

When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.

Tacitus, Publius Cornelius

The man who is ostentatious of his modesty is twin to the statue that wears a fig-leaf.

Twain, Mark

Act as though you cannot fail but keep a humble spirit.

Unknown, Source

It's always well to be the smartest thinker, but is won't get you very far unless you're the plainest talker.

Unknown, Source