Honore de Balzac Quotes

Those who do not think about their own sins make up for it by thinking incessantly about the sins of others.

There is a guilty conscience behind every brazen word and act and behind every manifestation of self-righteousness.

He who accuses another of wrong should look well into his own conduct.

When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.

If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.

His past was fairly blameless; few men could read the rolls of their life with less apprehension; yet he was humbled to the dust by the many ill things he had done, and raised up again into sober and fearful gratitude by the many he had come so near to doing, yet avoided.

Before thou reprehend another, take heed thou art not culpable in what thou goest about to reprehend. He that cleanses a blot with blotted fingers makes a greater blur.

E'er you remark another's sin, bid your own conscience look within.

The urging of that word, judgment, hath bred a kind of remorse in me.

Hypocrite reader my fellow my brother!

Fear is the mother of morality.

My conscience is clear.

Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends.

Conscience is our unerring judge until we finally stifle it.

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

What most men call their conscience is imaginary virtue switching left or right according to self-interest.

There is no point in pointing fingers because there are three fingers pointing back at you.

Curiously enough, it is often the people who refuse to assume any responsibility who are apt to be the sharpest critics of those who do.

I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.

The Anglo-Saxon conscience does not prevent the Anglo-Saxon from sinning, it merely prevents him from enjoying his sin.

Personally, I'm tired of hearing the whole have-you-no-decency routine from people who have made quite clear that they possess none themselves.

Prudence reproaches; conscience accuses.

If any speak ill of thee, flee home to thy own conscience, and examine thy heart: if thou be guilty, it is a just correction; if not guilty, it is a fair instruction: make use of both; so shalt thou distil honey out of gall, and out of an open enemy create a secret friend.

I'm pretty good at taking accountability now, and I never did anything to deserve that. It was a really lousy thing for her to do.