Nathaniel Hawthorne Quotes

There is scarcely any man, how much soever he may despise the character of a flatterer, but will condescend in the meanest manner to flatter himself.

Man is very vain; he likes to feel that he is responsible for all the favorable things that happen, and he is innocent of all the unfavorable happenings

Fondly we think we honor merit then, When we but praise ourselves in other men.

People may flatter themselves just as much by thinking that their faults are always present to other people's minds, as if they believe that the world is always contemplating their individual charms and virtues.

None are more taken in by flattery than the proud, who wish to be the first and are not.

Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.

The fool within himself is the object of pity, until he is flattered.

He that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the flatterer.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes

Persons in high situations must particularly guard themselves against selfishness and vanity. An individual in a high and important situation will easily see a great many persons eager to please the first, and to flatter and encourage the last.

If we did not flatter ourselves, the flattery of others could never harm us.

He that is much flattered soon learns to flatter himself.

Self-righteousness is a loud din raised to drown the voice of guilt within us.

Nothing makes one so vain as being told that one is a sinner.

Whenever we find ourselves more inclined to persecute than to persuade, we may then be certain that our zeal has more of pride in it than of charity.

Guilt is petty; I am above guilt.

The greatest human virtue bears no proportion to human vanity. We always think ourselves better than we are, and are generally desirous that others should think us still better than we think ourselves. To praise us for actions or dispositions which deserve praise is not to confer a benefit, but to pay a tribute. We have always pretensions to fame which, in our own hearts, we know to be disputable, and which we are desirous to strengthen by a new suffrage; we have always hopes which we suspect to be fallacious, and of which we eagerly snatch at every confirmation.

If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.

It is scarcely credible to what degree discernment may be dazzled by the mist of pride, and wisdom infatuated by the intoxication of flattery.

There is no such flatterer as is a man's self.

Because all men are apt to flatter themselves, to entertain the addition of other men's praises is most perilous.

It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does. And men take care that they should.

Let us watch against PRIDE in every shapepride of intellect, pride of wealth, pride in our own goodness.

Verily the kindness that gazes upon itself in a mirror turns to stone, and a good deed that calls itself by tender names becomes the parent to a curse.

Pope had been flattered till he thought himself one of the moving powers of the system of life. When he talked of laying down his pen, those who sat round him intreated and implored; and self-love did not suffer him to suspect that they went away and laughed.