Eric Hoffer Quotes

There is no doubt that in exchanging a self-centered for a selfless life we gain enormously in self-esteem. The vanity of the selfless, even those who practice utmost humility, is boundless.

Virtue would go far if vanity did not keep it company.

There are few so free from vanity as not to dictate to those who will hear their instructions with a visible sense of their own beneficence.

There are two kinds of egotists: Those who admit it, and the rest of us.

From compassion springs humility. The ego is verily a gateway to hell. The person who is egoistic is far from being religious.

One may be humble out of pride.

Brian Cox is the nicest guy, but he's so arrogant.

Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves.

It's very nice to be in a show where your vanity is completely out of the picture.

Our holiness is an effect, not a cause; so long as our eyes are on our own personal whiteness as an end in itself, the thing breaks down.

I don't have an ego that makes me believe the world revolves around me. I am not self-absorbed.

What hypocrites we seem to be whenever we talk of ourselves! Our words sound so humble, while our hearts are so proud.

It's so rare, actors who are not vain.

'Bloody do-gooders' is my expression for people who are nicer than me, who are better than me.

It is much easier for me to imagine a praying murderer, a praying prostitute, than a vain person praying. Nothing is so at odds with prayer as vanity.

Blessed the geniuses who know / that egomania is not a duty.

Generosity is the vanity of giving.

We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.

The greatest of all fools is the proud fool--who is at the mercy of every fool he meets.

The nicest gifts are those left, nameless and quiet, unburdened with love, or vanity, or the desire for attention.

Do I think well of myself, think myself a nice chap? WEll, I am afraid I sometimes do (and those are, no doubt, my worst moments).

Many a peacock hides his peacock tail from all eyes--and calls it his pride.

It is a fault, not a virtue, to wish your humility recognized and applauded.

Pride is a vice, which pride itself inclines every man to find in others, and to overlook in himself

Vanity is a confounded donkey, very apt to put his head between his legs, and chuck us over; but pride is a fine horse, that will carry us over the ground, and enable us to distance our fellow-travelers.