Nobody can be so amusingly arrogant as a young man who has just discovered an old idea and thinks it read more

Nobody can be so amusingly arrogant as a young man who has just discovered an old idea and thinks it is his own.

We say little if not egged on by vanity.
[Fr., On parle peu quand la vanite ne fait pas read more

We say little if not egged on by vanity.
[Fr., On parle peu quand la vanite ne fait pas parler.]

Oh, wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursel's as ithers see us!
It wad read more

Oh, wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursel's as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
And foolish notion.

There is a marvelous turn and trick to British arrogance; its apparent unconsciousness makes it twice as effectual.

There is a marvelous turn and trick to British arrogance; its apparent unconsciousness makes it twice as effectual.

"Vanitas vanitatum" has rung in the ears
Of gentle and simple for thousands of years;
The wail read more

"Vanitas vanitatum" has rung in the ears
Of gentle and simple for thousands of years;
The wail still is heard, yet its notes never scare
Either simple or gentle from Vanity Fair.

One will rarely err if extreme actions be ascribed to vanity, ordinary actions to habit, and mean actions to fear.

One will rarely err if extreme actions be ascribed to vanity, ordinary actions to habit, and mean actions to fear.

My father said, "Politics asks the question: Is it expedient? Vanity asks: Is it popular? But conscience asks: Is it read more

My father said, "Politics asks the question: Is it expedient? Vanity asks: Is it popular? But conscience asks: Is it right?"

Vanity as an impulse has without doubt been of far more benefit to civilization than modesty has ever been.

Vanity as an impulse has without doubt been of far more benefit to civilization than modesty has ever been.

Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain:
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he read more

Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain:
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain.