I’m not going to tell you much more of the case, Doctor. You know a conjurer gets no credit once he has explained his trick; and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all.
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) British writer and physician
Story (1886-04), “A Study in Scarlet,” Part 1, ch. 4 [Holmes], Beeton’s Christmas Annual, Vol. 28 (1887-11-21)
(Source)
Quotations about:
false-modesty
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
It is, indeed, a trial to maintain the virtue of humility when one can’t help being right.
Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1999-02-02)
(Source)
The quickest way to take the starch out ov a man who iz allwuss blameing himself, is to agree with him, this aint what he iz looking for.
[The quickest way to take the starch out of a man who is always blaming himself, is to agree with him; this ain’t what he is looking for.]
Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-11 (1875 ed.)
(Source)
We refuse praise from a desire to be praised twice.
[Le refus des louanges est un désir d’être loué deux fois.]
François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶149 (1665-1678) [tr. Kronenberger (1959)]
(Source)
Present since the 1st edition. Brund/Friswell note a variant 1665 version which they translate: "The modesty which pretends to refuse praise is but in truth a desire to be praised more highly."
See also ¶327, and Chesterfield (1750).
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:That Modesty which stands so much upon the refusal of [praises], is indeed but a desire of having such as are more delicate.
[tr. Davies (1669), ¶151]He that refuses Praises the first time it is offered, does it, because he would hear it a second.
[tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶150]A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), ¶368; ed. Lepoittevin-Lacroix (1797), ¶143]Resistance to praise is a desire to be praised twice.
[ed. Carvill (1835), ¶325]A refusal of praise; is a desire to be praised twice.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶152]The refusal of praise is only the wish to be praised twice.
[tr. Bund/Friswell (1871), ¶149]We decline commendation that we may be twice commended.
[tr. Heard (1917), ¶149]To disclaim admiration is to desire it in double measure.
[tr. Stevens (1939), ¶149]The refusal to accept praise is the desire to be praised twice over.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶149]To refuse to accept praise is to want to be praised twice over.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶149]The refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice over.
[tr. Siniscalchi (c. 1994)]The refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
[tr. Whichello (2016) ¶149]
I think I am actually humble. I think I’m much more humble than you would understand.
Donald J. Trump (b. 1946) American businessman, media personality, US President (2017-21)
Interview by Leslie Stahl, 60 Minutes (18 Jul 2016)
(Source)
There are no grades of vanity, there are only grades of ability in concealing it.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Note (1898-07-04)), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 21 “In Vienna” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]
(Source)
While summering in Kaltenleutgeben, Austria.
Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Note (1898-07-04), Mark Twain’s Notebook, ch. 21 “In Vienna” (1935) [ed. Albert Bigelow Paine]
(Source)
While summering in Kaltenleutgeben, Austria.
Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.
Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773) English statesman, wit [Philip Dormer Stanhope]
Letter to his son, #225 (17 May 1750)
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