The Best Quotes About Modesty

Updated June 14, 2019 872 votes 178 voters 23.0k views

List RulesMust be a famous or well-known quote. Vote for the Modesty sayings that strongly resonate with you, and downvote any you didn't like.

A list of the best modesty quotes and sayings, including the names of each speaker or author when available. This list is sorted by popularity, so only the most famous modesty quotes are at the top. The authors of these historic modesty quotes are displayed next to each quote, so if you see one you like be sure to check out other inspirational modesty quotes from that same writer.

This list answers the questions, "What are the best quotes about modesty?" and "What are inspirational modesty quotes?"

This list includes notable modesty quotes by various authors, writers, playwrights, speakers, politicians, athletes, poets, and more. Vote on your favorites so that the greatest modesty quotes rise to the top, as the order of the list changes dynamically based on votes. Don't let your favorite modesty sayings get to the bottom of the list.

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26
6
2
Usually the modest person passes for someone reserved, the silent for a sullen person
Horace
27
8
2
Although modesty is natural to man, it is not natural to children. Modesty only begins with the knowledge of evil.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
28
6
2
Fidelity to conscience is inconsistent with retiring modesty. If it be so, let the modesty succumb. It can be only a false modesty which can be thus endangered.
Harriet Martineau
29
6
2
"Volunteer for what?"
Janet Morris, Chris Morris
30
10
4
We wound our modesty and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them.
William Shakespeare
31
8
2
Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
32
6
2
Ornaments were invented by modesty.
Joseph Joubert

33
6
2
No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
34
4
0
It's always well to be the smartest thinker, but is won't get you very far unless you're the plainest talker.
35
9
3
So rare is the union of beauty with modesty.
Juvenal
36
8
2
We must watch over our modesty in the presence of those who cannot understand its grounds.
Jean Rostand
37
4
0
"And personally, I've lost my thirst for vengeance."
Janet Morris
38
8
2
Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my dear, kiss me and be quiet.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
39
8
4
I don't like to write like God. It is only because you never do it, though, that the critics think you can't do it.
Ernest Hemingway
40
6
4
Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature, and may be either good or bad according to the actions performed from that motive.
Bernard Mandeville
41
10
10
Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a real confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others.
William Hazlitt
42
8
8
Great things happen in small places. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville.
Jesse Jackson
43
6
8
"I'm just a weapon of the god."
Janet Morris, Chris Morris

Usually the modest person passes for someone reserved, the silent for a sullen person

Although modesty is natural to man, it is not natural to children. Modesty only begins with the knowledge of evil.

Fidelity to conscience is inconsistent with retiring modesty. If it be so, let the modesty succumb. It can be only a false modesty which can be thus endangered.

"Volunteer for what?"

We wound our modesty and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them.

Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked.

Ornaments were invented by modesty.

No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune.

It's always well to be the smartest thinker, but is won't get you very far unless you're the plainest talker.

So rare is the union of beauty with modesty.

We must watch over our modesty in the presence of those who cannot understand its grounds.

"And personally, I've lost my thirst for vengeance."

Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my dear, kiss me and be quiet.

I don't like to write like God. It is only because you never do it, though, that the critics think you can't do it.

Because impudence is a vice, it does not follow that modesty is a virtue; it is built upon shame, a passion in our nature, and may be either good or bad according to the actions performed from that motive.

Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a real confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others.

Great things happen in small places. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville.

"I'm just a weapon of the god."