# Quotes about vanity - Quotes: 75 - Authors: 47 - Broader topic: [Quotes about pride](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/pride.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.json ## Quotes > Provided a man is not mad, he can be cured of every folly but vanity; there is no cure for this but experience, if indeed there is any cure for it at all; when it first appears we can at least prevent its further growth. But do not on this account waste your breath on empty arguments to prove to the youth that he is like other men and subject to the same weaknesses. Make him feel it or he will never know it. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/provided-a-man.md) Topics: [experience](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/experience.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > So are there some vain persons, that whatsoever goeth alone, or moveth upon greater means, if they have never so little hand in it, they think it is they that carry it. They that are glorious, must needs be factious; for all bravery stands upon comparisons. They must needs be violent, to make good their own vaunts. Neither can they be secret, and therefore not effectual; but according to the French proverb, Beaucoup de bruit, peu de fruit; Much bruit little fruit. [Francis Bacon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon.md) · [The Essays](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays/so-are-there.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Glorious men are the scorn of wise men, the admiration of fools, the idols of parasites, and the slaves of their own vaunts. [Francis Bacon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon.md) · [The Essays](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays/glorious-men-are.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > They that desire to excel in too many matters, out of levity and vain glory, are ever envious. For they cannot want work; it being impossible, but many, in some one of those things, should surpass them. Which was the character of Adrian the Emperor; that mortally envied poets, and painters, and artificers, in works wherein he had a vein to excel. [Francis Bacon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon.md) · [The Essays](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays/they-that-desire.md) Topics: [jealousy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/jealousy.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > So difficult is it to manage the irritable amour-propre of literary men, and such great care is necessary, in paying them compliments, to leave nothing which can even be suspected of a double meaning. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Confessions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions/so-difficult-is.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Whenever he met a great man he grovelled before him, and my-lorded him as only a free-born Briton can do. [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray.md) · [Vanity Fair](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair.md) · p. 125 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/whenever-he-met.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Vanity Fair—Vanity Fair! Here was a man, who could not spell, and did not care to read—who had the habits and the cunning of a boor: whose aim in life was pettifogging: who never had a taste, or emotion, or enjoyment, but what was sordid and foul; and yet he had rank, and honours, and power, somehow: and was a dignitary of the land, and a pillar of the state. He was high sheriff, and rode in a golden coach. Great ministers and statesmen courted him; and in Vanity Fair he had a higher place than the most brilliant genius or spotless virtue. [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray.md) · [Vanity Fair](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair.md) · p. 84 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/vanity-fair-vanity-fair.md) Topics: [power](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/power.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > It seemed a humiliation to old Osborne to think that his son, an English gentleman, a captain in the famous British army, should not be found worthy to lie in ground where mere foreigners were buried. Which of us is there can tell how much vanity lurks in our warmest regard for others, and how selfish our love is? Old Osborne did not speculate much upon the mingled nature of his feelings, and how his instinct and selfishness were combating together. He firmly believed that everything he did was right, that he ought on all occasions to have his own way—and like the sting of a wasp or serpent his hatred rushed out armed and poisonous against anything like opposition. He was proud of his hatred as of everything else. Always to be right, always to trample forward, and never to doubt, are not these the great qualities with which dullness takes the lead in the world? [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray.md) · [Vanity Fair](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair.md) · p. 346 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/it-seemed-a-humiliation.md) Topics: [selfishness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/selfishness.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Ah! Vanitas Vanitatum! which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? or, having it, is satisfied?—come, children, let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out. [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray.md) · [Vanity Fair](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair.md) · p. 680 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-fair/ah-vanitas-vanitatum.md) Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > He knows that he is beautiful and somehow this makes him ugly. [Damon Galgut](https://www.leafyquotes.com/damon-galgut.md) · [In a Strange Room](https://www.leafyquotes.com/damon-galgut/in-a-strange-room.md) · p. 21 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/damon-galgut/in-a-strange-room/he-knows-that.md) Topics: [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > He was firmly convinced of his uniqueness in the universe and his general superiority to it, although he was occasionally bothered by the universe’s lack of appreciation. [Jack L. Chalker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker.md) · [Midnight at the Well of Souls](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker/midnight-at-the-well-of-souls.md) · p. 32 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker/midnight-at-the-well-of-souls/he-was-firmly.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [selfishness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/selfishness.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > "If you could just for a moment come out of yourself and see what I see...you wouldn't stop looking at yourself. But unfortunately you need a mirror to do it, my poor beauty.” (p148) [Dorit Rabinyan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorit-rabinyan.md) · [Strand of a Thousand Pearls](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorit-rabinyan/strand-of-a-thousand-pearls.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dorit-rabinyan/strand-of-a-thousand-pearls/if-you-could.md) Topics: [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > The all-consuming passion of Wolsey for Wolsey was hot enough to scorch all England. [Hilary Mantel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel.md) · [Wolf Hall](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel/wolf-hall.md) · p. 531 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel/wolf-hall/the-all-consuming-passion.md) Topics: [selfishness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/selfishness.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Oh, I suppose if you're a powerful merchant it's nice to have a famous wife. It's like owning jewelry. (p. 330) [Terry Pratchett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett.md) · [Moving Pictures](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/moving-pictures.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/moving-pictures/oh-i-suppose.md) Topics: [marriage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/marriage.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > The kings of Hell might have heard of words like "subtlety" and "discretion," but they had also heard that if you had it you should flaunt it and reasoned that, if you didn't have it, you should flaunt it even more, and what they didn't have was good taste. (pp. 186-187) [Terry Pratchett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett.md) · [Eric](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/eric.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/eric/the-kings-of-hell.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > My dear Irene, there are two sorts of collectors. One is satisfied by simply owning the treasured item and doesn’t care whether or not the rest of the world knows. But the other sort—they absolutely have to brag about their possessions. For them, half the pleasure comes from the thought of acquaintances gnawing their guts out with envy. Even if it increases the risk of theft, they can’t help themselves. [Genevieve Cogman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/genevieve-cogman.md) · [The Secret Chapter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/genevieve-cogman/the-secret-chapter.md) · p. 37 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/genevieve-cogman/the-secret-chapter/my-dear-irene.md) Topics: [jealousy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/jealousy.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > 'It is the business of agent runners to turn themselves into legends,' Smiley began. “They do this first to impress their agents. Later they try it out on their colleagues and in my personal experience make rare asses of themselves in consequence.” [John le Carré](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-le-carre.md) · [Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-le-carre/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-le-carre/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy/it-is-the.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > I could see the cartoon slot machine flicker behind his eyes. Nightingale was offering what the ridiculously rich always crave—a chance to be exclusive. [Ben Aaronovitch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch.md) · [Lies Sleeping](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/lies-sleeping.md) · p. 106 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ben-aaronovitch/lies-sleeping/i-could-see.md) Topics: [wealth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wealth.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > The car takes us along a long, winding drive, the kind reserved for the sort of place owned by people who want you to spend the last minutes of your journey appreciating just how rich they are. [Emma Newman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emma-newman.md) · [After Atlas](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emma-newman/after-atlas.md) · p. 53 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emma-newman/after-atlas/the-car-takes.md) Topics: [wealth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wealth.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Whoever wants to know man's vanity fully has only to consider the causes and effects of love. The cause is a something I know not what. Corneille. And the effects are frightening. This something I know not what, so insignificant that we cannot recognize it, disturbs the whole earth, princes, armies, the entire world. Cleopatra's nose: had it been shorter, the whole face of the earth would have been changed. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/whoever-wants-to-know.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > He who will know fully the vanity of man has only to consider the causes and effects of love. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/he-who-will.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > We do not content ourselves with the life we have in ourselves and in our own being; we desire to live an imaginary life in the mind of others, and for this purpose we endeavor to shine. We labor unceasingly to adorn and preserve this imaginary existence, and neglect the real. ...we would willingly be cowards in order to acquire the reputation of being brave. ...For he would be infamous who would not die to preserve his honor. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/we-do-not-content.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > We are so presumptuous that we would wish to be known by all the world, even by people who shall come after, when we shall be no more; and we are so vain that the esteem of five or six neighbors delights and contents us. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/we-are-so-presumptuous.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Vanity is so anchored in the heart of man that a soldier, a soldier's servant, a cook, a porter brags, and wishes to have his admirers. Even philosophers wish for them. Those who write against it want to have the glory of having written well; and those who read it desire the glory of having read it. I who write this have perhaps this desire, and perhaps those who will read it … [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/vanity-is-so-anchored.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > How wonderful it is that a thing so evident as the vanity of the world is so little known, that it is a strange and surprising thing to say that it is foolish to seek greatness! [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/how-wonderful-it-is-that.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > But will you say what object has he in all this? The pleasure of bragging to-morrow among his friends that he has played better than another. So others sweat in their own rooms to show to the learned that they have solved a problem in algebra, which no one had hitherto been able to solve. Many more expose themselves to extreme perils, in my opinion as foolishly, in order to boast afterwords that they have captured a town. Lastly, others wear themselves out in studying all these things, not in order to become wiser, but only in order to prove that they know them; and these are the most senseless of the band, since they are so, knowingly, whereas one may suppose of the others, that if they knew it, they would no longer be foolish. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/but-will-you.md) Topics: [knowledge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/knowledge.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > He forgave these Tropemen, then felt contempt for himself for the presumption of extending forgiveness, then forgave again, then cursed his own vanity, forgave once more, condemned his presumption, and at last forgave even himself. [Michael Bishop](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-bishop.md) · [A Funeral for the Eyes of Fire](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-bishop/a-funeral-for-the-eyes-of-fire.md) · p. 265 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-bishop/a-funeral-for-the-eyes-of-fire/he-forgave-these.md) Topics: [forgiveness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/forgiveness.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Some people are born ugly. It's not their fault, and I for one have never held it against a man that he is ugly. but others — and I count myself among them — are born with handsome features. That's a gift that should not be lightly taken away. [David Gemmell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-gemmell.md) · [Legend](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-gemmell/legend.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-gemmell/legend/some-people-are.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > [A white person] was among the most fanatical agents I ever encountered on the Underground. All of these fanatics were white. They took slavery as a personal insult or affront, a stain upon their name. They had seen women carried off to fancy, or watched as a father was stripped and beaten in front of his child, or seen whole families pinned like hogs into rail-cars, steam-boats, and jails. Slavery humiliated them, because it offended a basic sense of goodness that they believed themselves to possess. And when their cousins perpetrated the base practice, it served to remind them how easily they might do the same. They scorned their barbaric brethren, but they were brethren all the same. So their opposition was a kind of vanity, a hatred of slavery that far outranked any love of the slave. [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ta-nehisi-coates.md) · [The Water Dancer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ta-nehisi-coates/the-water-dancer.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ta-nehisi-coates/the-water-dancer/a-white-person.md) Topics: [slavery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/slavery.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > There is a real irony to the NLPers I knew who prided themselves on their communication skills yet because of their need to let everyone know how engaging they were, they were among the least engaging [Derren Brown](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown.md) · [Tricks Of The Mind](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown/tricks-of-the-mind.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown/tricks-of-the-mind/there-is-a-real.md) Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > The desire to impress is an efficient means of bringing out one’s least impressive qualities. [Derren Brown](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown.md) · [Confessions of a Conjuror](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown/confessions-of-a-conjuror.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown/confessions-of-a-conjuror/the-desire-to-impress.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > If you concern yourself with telling or showing people how interesting you are, you will at best provoke a temporary response of polite interest until even that gives way to annoyance. If you let people find it out for themselves, you become a real source of fascination. [Derren Brown](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown.md) · [Tricks Of The Mind](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown/tricks-of-the-mind.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/derren-brown/tricks-of-the-mind/if-you-concern.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md), [modesty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/modesty.md) > Her experience had taught her that people who insisted on having others recognize their outstanding qualities usually didn’t have any. [Jack Mcdevitt](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-mcdevitt.md) · [Chindi](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-mcdevitt/chindi.md) · p. 369 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-mcdevitt/chindi/her-experience-had.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Vainglory, however, no matter how much medieval Christianity insisted it was a sin, is a motor of mankind, no more eradicable than sex. As long as combat was desirable as the source of honor and glory, the knight had no wish to share it with the commoner, even for the sake of success. [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/barbara-w-tuchman.md) · [A Distant Mirror](https://www.leafyquotes.com/barbara-w-tuchman/a-distant-mirror.md) · p. 577 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/barbara-w-tuchman/a-distant-mirror/vainglory-however-no-matter.md) Topics: [honour](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/honour.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Pride and Vanity have built more Hospitals than all the Virtues together. [Bernard Mandeville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville.md) · [The Fable of the Bees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville/the-fable-of-the-bees.md) · p. 294 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville/the-fable-of-the-bees/pride-and-vanity.md) Topics: [pride](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/pride.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md), [altruism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/altruism.md) > Luxury > > Employ'd a Million of the Poor, > > And odious Pride a Million more; > > Envy it self, and Vanity, > > Were Ministers of Industry; > > Their darling Folly, Fickleness, > > In Diet, Furniture and Dress, > > That strange ridic'lous Vice, was made > > The very Wheel that turn'd the Trade. [Bernard Mandeville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville.md) · [The Fable of the Bees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville/the-fable-of-the-bees.md) · p. 10 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bernard-mandeville/the-fable-of-the-bees/luxury-employd-a-million.md) Topics: [jealousy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/jealousy.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md), [flaws](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/flaws.md) > An appeal to a goodness which is not in him is, to a vain and sensitive soul, a stinging insult. [Frederick Rolfe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frederick-rolfe.md) · [Hadrian the Seventh](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frederick-rolfe/hadrian-the-seventh.md) · p. 296 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frederick-rolfe/hadrian-the-seventh/an-appeal-to-a-goodness.md) Topics: [kindness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/kindness.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > 'The trouble is, it's hard to know you're little,' says Felicity. 'People like to make themselves matter.' [Malcolm Bradbury](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-bradbury.md) · [The History Man](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-bradbury/the-history-man.md) · p. 126 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-bradbury/the-history-man/the-trouble-is-its.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > One of the better aspects of aging was that she no longer practiced dragging on cigarettes before the mirror, striving to get the right dissipated look, or tried on sunglasses until she found the kind the latest hip singer wore. Had she really worn those mirrorshades? Perfect holdovers from the Me Decade, because they let the viewer watch himself. [Gregory Benford](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford.md) · [Cosm](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/cosm.md) · p. 282 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/cosm/one-of-the.md) Topics: [old age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/old-age.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > There is nothing so skilful in its own defence as imperious pride. […] Wounded vanity knows when it is mortally hurt; and limps off the field, piteous, all disguises thrown away. But pride carries its banner to the last; and fast as it is driven from one field unfurls it in another, never admitting that there is a shade less honor in the second field than in the first, or in the third than in the second; and so on till death. [Helen Hunt Jackson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/helen-hunt-jackson.md) · [Ramona](https://www.leafyquotes.com/helen-hunt-jackson/ramona.md) · p. 206 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/helen-hunt-jackson/ramona/there-is-nothing.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md), [pride](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/pride-2.md) > When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity. [Dale Carnegie](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dale-carnegie.md) · [How to Win Friends and Influence People](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dale-carnegie/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people.md) · p. 29 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dale-carnegie/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people/when-dealing-with.md) Topics: [emotions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/emotions.md), [prejudice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/prejudice.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > "I almost wish I were not a painter," observed my companion. > > "Why so? one would think at such a time you would most exult in your privilege of being able to imitate the various brilliant and delightful touches of nature." > > "No; for instead of delivering myself up to the full enjoyment of them as others do, I am always troubling my head about how I could produce the same effect upon canvas; and as that can never be done, it is more vanity and vexation of spirit." [Anne Brontë](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte.md) · [The Tenant of Wildfell Hall](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anne-bronte/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall/i-almost-wish.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > 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. [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elizabeth-gaskell.md) · [Wives and Daughters](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elizabeth-gaskell/wives-and-daughters.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/elizabeth-gaskell/wives-and-daughters/people-may-flatter.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Quadruped lions are said to be savage, only when they are hungry; biped lions are rarely sulky longer than when their appetite for distinction remains unappeased. [Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/nicholas-nickleby.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/nicholas-nickleby/quadruped-lions-are.md) Topics: [fame](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fame.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > She was beautiful, with a beauty so severe and so solitary that at first it was startling. "Ah! If only there were two of me," she thought, "one doing the talking and one listening, one living and one watching, how I would love myself. I'd envy no one." [Simone de Beauvoir](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-de-beauvoir.md) · [All Men Are Mortal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-de-beauvoir/all-men-are-mortal.md) · p. 5 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-de-beauvoir/all-men-are-mortal/she-was-beautiful.md) Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md), [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > And in the name of this gospel of freedom, she had imprisoned herself; in the name of "living life honestly," she would go to her death. It was, he supposed, the only way she could make herself feel special. [Matthew Stover](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matthew-stover.md) · [Blade of Tyshalle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matthew-stover/blade-of-tyshalle.md) · p. 473 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/matthew-stover/blade-of-tyshalle/and-in-the.md) Topics: [freedom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/freedom.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Cats are contented with their lot, with or without our approval. They have less need of us than we would like. It would flatter us to think that cats cannot survive without us, that they need us emotionally as well as materially, whereas in fact they probably do not need us in either sphere. This wounds our vanity. We need cats to need us. It unnerves us that they do not. However, if they do not need us, they nonetheless seem to love us. [Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jeffrey-moussaieff-masson.md) · [The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jeffrey-moussaieff-masson/the-nine-emotional-lives-of-cats.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jeffrey-moussaieff-masson/the-nine-emotional-lives-of-cats/cats-are-contented.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md), [cats](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cats.md) > It beareth the name of Vanity Fair, because the town where 't is kept is lighter than vanity. [John Bunyan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-bunyan.md) · [The Pilgrim's Progress](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-bunyan/the-pilgrims-progress.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-bunyan/the-pilgrims-progress/it-beareth-the.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Many men of importance were gathered there to be seen talking with other men of importance, resulting in an abundance of conspicuous but immaterial discourse. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [The Visitor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-visitor.md) · p. 40 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-visitor/many-men-of-importance.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Vanity plays lurid tricks with our memory. [Joseph Conrad](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-conrad.md) · [Lord Jim](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-conrad/lord-jim.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-conrad/lord-jim/vanity-plays-lurid.md) Topics: [memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/memory.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Too much tail. All that jewelry weighs it down. Like vanity. Can't nobody fly with all that shit. Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down. [Toni Morrison](https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-morrison.md) · [Song of Solomon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-morrison/song-of-solomon.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-morrison/song-of-solomon/too-much-tail.md) Topics: [freedom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/freedom.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > All therefore is vanity, save to love God and to serve Him only. . [Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/all-therefore-is-vanity.md) Topics: [god](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/god.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Be not lifted up because of thy strength or beauty of body, for with only a slight sickness it will fail and wither away. Be not vain of thy skilfulness or ability, lest thou displease God, from whom cometh every good gift which we have. [Thomas Kempis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis.md) · [The Imitation of Christ](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-kempis/the-imitation-of-christ/be-not-lifted.md) Topics: [humility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humility.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > O vanity! you are the lever by means of which Archimedes wished to lift the earth! [Mikhail Lérmontov](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mikhail-lermontov.md) · [A Hero of Our Time](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mikhail-lermontov/a-hero-of-our-time.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mikhail-lermontov/a-hero-of-our-time/o-vanity-you.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > “He’s vain. His vanity’s hurt by the world’s refusal to accept his remedies and become immediately Enlightened. And what does a vain man do when insulted, Sir?”...“He lashes out, Sir,” says I. “He seeks to portion blame. He fumes, Sir. He attacks. In the case before us, such is his despotic power, he kills. He kills, Sir. He wars on other nations. Mary’s blood, Sir, but this poor sphere of ours suffers more from the single, frustrated egoist than from any natural—or supernatural—misery. Your own Church’s history, Sir, illustrates my point well enough, eh? We are too frequently in the power of mad children, who rage and stamp and break Kingdoms as they break toys. They order thousands of deaths a day as if they were spoiled brats kicking at their dolls!” [Michael Moorcock](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-moorcock.md) · [The City in the Autumn Stars](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-moorcock/the-city-in-the-autumn-stars.md) · p. 197 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-moorcock/the-city-in-the-autumn-stars/hes-vain-his.md) Topics: [tyranny](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/tyranny.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > "I don't see anything evil in a desire to make money. But money is only a means to some end. If a man wants it for a personal purpose—to invest in his industry, to create, to study, to travel, to enjoy luxury—he's completely moral. But the men who place money first go much beyond that. Personal luxury is a limited endeavor. What they want is ostentation: to show, to stun, to entertain, to impress others. They're second-handers." [Ayn Rand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand.md) · [The Fountainhead](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/the-fountainhead.md) · p. 658 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/the-fountainhead/i-dont-see.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > In the self-important, Falco reflected, there is always room for a little more self-importance. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [The Eye of the Heron](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-eye-of-the-heron.md) · p. 66 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-eye-of-the-heron/in-the-self-important.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Being a man given to oratory and high principles, he enjoyed the sound of his own vocabulary and the warmth of his own virtue. ~ Ch. 6 [Sinclair Lewis](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis.md) · [Babbitt](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis/babbitt.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sinclair-lewis/babbitt/being-a-man.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character; vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held in society. He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliott, who united these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect and devotion. [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Persuasion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/persuasion.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/persuasion/vanity-was-the.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > I didn't love him, but I liked him being in love with me. [P.D. James](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pd-james.md) · [The Children of Men](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pd-james/the-children-of-men.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pd-james/the-children-of-men/i-didnt-love.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > In first class, you count on your fellow passengers to make you feel good about yourself. You're supposed to look around with pride, telling yourself that these are your kind of people. [David Sedaris](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris.md) · [Theft by Finding](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/theft-by-finding.md) · p. 445 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/theft-by-finding/in-first-class.md) Topics: [travel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/travel.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > The advantage of doing one's praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places. [Samuel Butler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-butler.md) · [The Way of All Flesh](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-butler/the-way-of-all-flesh.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-butler/the-way-of-all-flesh/the-advantage-of-doing.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Vanity is as ill at ease under indifference as tenderness is under a love which it cannot return . . . [George Eliot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot.md) · [Daniel Deronda](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/daniel-deronda.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/daniel-deronda/vanity-is-as-ill.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md), [indifference](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/indifference.md) > Our vanities differ as our noses do: all conceit is not the same conceit, but varies in correspondence with the minutiae of mental make in which one of us differs from another. [George Eliot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot.md) · [Middlemarch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/middlemarch.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/middlemarch/our-vanities-differ.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Rosamond felt herself beginning to know a great deal of the world, especially in discovering what when she was in her unmarried girlhood had been inconceivable to her except as a dim tragedy in by-gone costumes— that women, even after marriage, might make conquests and enslave men. Still, vanity, with a woman's whole mind and day to work in, can construct abundantly on slight hints, especially on such a hint as the possibility of indefinite conquests. How delightful to make captives from the throne of marriage with a husband as crown-prince by your side—himself in fact a subject— while the captives look up forever hopeless, losing their rest probably, and if their appetite too, so much the better! [George Eliot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot.md) · [Middlemarch](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/middlemarch.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/middlemarch/rosamond-felt-herself.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > I've never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them. [George Eliot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot.md) · [The Mill on the Floss](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/the-mill-on-the-floss.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/the-mill-on-the-floss/ive-never-any.md) Topics: [compassion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/compassion.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > He will never set two dogs to fight, he will never set a dog to chase a cat. This peaceful spirit is one of the results of his education, which has never stimulated self-love or a high opinion of himself, and so has not encouraged him to seek his pleasure in domination and in the sufferings of others. The sight of suffering makes him suffer too; this is a natural feeling. It is one of the after effects of vanity that hardens a young man and makes him take a delight in seeing the torments of a living and feeling creature; it makes him consider himself beyond the reach of similar sufferings through his superior wisdom or virtue. He who is beyond the reach of vanity cannot fall into the vice which results from vanity. So Emile loves peace. He is delighted at the sight of happiness, and if he can help to bring it about, this is an additional reason for sharing it. I do not assume that when he sees the unhappy he will merely feel for them that barren and cruel pity which is content to pity the ills it can heal. His kindness is active and teaches him much he would have learnt far more slowly, or he would never have learnt at all, if his heart had been harder. If he finds his comrades at strife, he tries to reconcile them; if he sees the afflicted, he inquires as to the cause of their sufferings; if he meets two men who hate each other, he wants to know the reason of their enmity; if he finds one who is down-trodden groaning under the oppression of the rich and powerful, he tries to discover by what means he can counteract this oppression, and in the interest he takes with regard to all these unhappy persons, the means of removing their sufferings are never out of his sight. What use shall we make of this disposition so that it may re-act in a way suited to his age? Let us direct his efforts and his knowledge, and use his zeal to increase them. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/he-will-never.md) Topics: [compassion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/compassion.md), [peace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/peace.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Where is the philosopher who would not deceive the whole world for his own glory? If he can rise above the crowd, if he can excel his rivals, what more does he want? Among believers he is an atheist; among atheists he would be a believer. The first thing I learned from these considerations was to restrict my inquiries to what directly concerned myself, to rest in profound ignorance of everything else, and not even to trouble myself to doubt anything beyond what I required to know. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/where-is-the.md) Topics: [philosophy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/philosophy.md), [ignorance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ignorance.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > The circumstances with which we are concerned are quite different. Let us keep to the common level. I assumed that my pupil had neither surpassing genius nor a defective understanding. I chose him of an ordinary mind to show what education could do for man. Exceptions defy all rules. If, therefore, as a result of my care, Emile prefers his way of living, seeing, and feeling to that of others, he is right; but if he thinks because of this that he is nobler and better born than they, he is wrong; he is deceiving himself. > > Moreover our pupil will be little tempted by this snare; he has so many amusements about him, he has never been bored in his life, and he scarcely knows the use of money. As children have been led by these two motives, self-interest and vanity, rogues and courtesans use the same means to get hold of them later. When you see their greediness encouraged by prizes and rewards, when you find their public performances at ten years old applauded at school or college, you see too how at twenty they will be induced to leave their purse in a gambling hell and their health in a worse place. > > The only precaution I shall take will be to share all the dangers I let him run, and all the insults I let him receive. I will bear everything in silence, without a murmur or reproach, without a word to him, and be sure that if this wise conduct is faithfully adhered to, what he sees me endure on his account will make more impression on his heart than what he himself suffers. > > The turn you give to your consolation may itself be a lesson to him, and all the more because he does not suspect it. When you tell him, for example, that many other people have made the same mistakes, this is not what he was expecting; you are administering correction under the guise of pity; for when one thinks oneself better than other people it is a very mortifying excuse to console oneself by their example; it means that we must realise that the most we can say is that they are no better than we. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/the-circumstances-with.md) Topics: [upbringing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/upbringing.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > A young man when he enters society must be preserved from vanity rather than from sensibility; he succumbs rather to the tastes of others than to his own, and self-love is responsible for more libertines than love. Self-love makes more libertines than love. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/a-young-man.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md), [self-love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-love.md) > do you desire to incline his disposition towards kindly deed and thought, do not cause the seeds of pride, vanity, and envy to spring up in him through the misleading picture of the happiness of mankind; do not show him to begin with the pomp of courts, the pride of palaces, the delights of pageants; do not take him into society and into brilliant assemblies; do not show him the outside of society till you have made him capable of estimating it at its true worth. To show him the world before he is acquainted with men, is not to train him, but to corrupt him; not to teach, but to mislead. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/do-you-desire.md) Topics: [upbringing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/upbringing.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Greediness is a better motive than vanity; for the former is a natural appetite directly dependent on the senses, while the latter is the outcome of convention, it is the slave of human caprice and liable to every kind of abuse. Believe me the child will cease to care about his food only too soon, and when his heart is too busy, his palate will be idle. When he is grown up greediness will be expelled by a host of stronger passions, while vanity will only be stimulated by them; for this latter passion feeds upon the rest till at length they are all swallowed up in it. I have sometimes studied those men who pay great attention to good eating, men whose first waking thought is—What shall we have to eat to-day? men who describe their dinner with as much detail as Polybius describes a combat. I have found these so-called men were only children of forty, without strength or vigour. > > A good meal should never be a reward; but why should it not be sometimes the result of efforts made to get it. Emile does not consider the cake I put on the stone as a reward for good running; he knows that the only way to get the cake is to get there first. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/greediness-is-a-better.md) Topics: [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md), [food](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/food.md) > The vain man is in like cause with the avaricious — he takes the mean for the end; forgetting the end he pursues the means for its own sake and goes no further. The seeming to be something, conducive to being it, ends by forming our objective. We need that others should believe in our superiority to them in order that we may believe in it ourselves, and upon their belief base our faith in our own persistence, or at least in the persistence of our fame. We are more grateful to him that congratulates us on the skill with which we defend a cause than we are to him who recognizes the truth or goodness of the cause itself. A rabid mania for originality is rife in the modern intellectual world and characterizes all individual effort. We would rather err with genius than hit the mark with the crowd. [Miguel de Unamuno](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno.md) · [Tragic Sense of Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life/the-vain-man.md) Topics: [fame](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fame.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Once the needs of hunger are satisfied — and they are soon satisfied — the vanity, the necessity — for it is a necessity — arises of imposing ourselves upon and surviving in others. Man habitually sacrifices his life to his purse, but he sacrifices his purse to his vanity. He boasts even of his weakness and his misfortunes, for want of anything better to boast of, and is like a child who, in order to attract attention, struts about with a bandaged finger. [Miguel de Unamuno](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno.md) · [Tragic Sense of Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life/once-the-needs.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md) > Rousseau has said in his Emile (book iv.): "Even though philosophers should be in a position to discover the truth, which of them would take any interest in it? Each one knows well that his system is not better founded than the others, but he supports it because it is his. ...The essential thing is to think differently from others. With believers he is an atheist; with atheists he is a believer." How much substantial truth there is in these gloomy confessions of this man of painful sincerity. [Miguel de Unamuno](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno.md) · [Tragic Sense of Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life/rousseau-has-said.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [philosophy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/philosophy.md), [vanity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vanity.md)