James Russell Lowell Quotes

Egotism is more like an offense, than a crime; though it is allowable to speak of yourself, provided nothing is advanced in favor; but I cannot help suspecting that those who abuse themselves are, in reality, angling for approbation.

A man is never more serious than when he praise himself.

Every other enjoyment malice may destroy; every other panegyric envy may withhold; but no human power can deprive the boaster of his own encomiums.

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.

Criticism is an indirect form of self-boasting.

men are so conceited they’ll believe anything that flatters them

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

I'm never in my life going to do a record that's a tribute to myself. I don't need it.

I never want to get caught up in praises. Never want to get caught up in people telling me how good I am.

Where's the mileage in an autobiography? Anyone who writes one inevitably casts themselves as a hero, and I'm not about to do that.

I like to hear a man talk about himself because then I never hear anything, but good.

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

Men of real merit, and whose noble and glorious deeds we are ready to acknowledge, are yet not to be endured when they vaunt their own actions.

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

The vain man makes a merit of misfortune, and triumphs in his disgrace.

He who sounds his own trumpet will soon find plenty to laugh at him.

Every man who praises himself brushes the luster from his best efforts.

A man that extols himself is a fool and an idiot

In my younger years my dedication may have expressed itself egotistically.

Self-consciousness is really a form of egotism.

All autobiography is self-indulgent.

I think a lot of Bernstein - but not as much as he does.

The advantage of doing one's praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places.

I don't do the whole, 'Put my name on it, make me famous' thing.

A lot of self-importance goes on in the fashion industry. I'm not like that.