Kats are very humble, espeshily just after they hav committed sum nu kind ov deviltry.
[Cats are very humble, especially just after they have committed some new kind of deviltry.]
Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1876-02 (1876 ed.)
(Source)
Quotations about:
false-modesty
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
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)
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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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