--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not tell others how to act unless you…" description: "\"“Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.”\" — Aesop" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/aesop-1073_quote_do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you_2139808.jpg" --- # Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good… ![“Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.” quote by Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/aesop-1073_quote_do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you_2139808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/aesop-1073_quote_do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you_2139808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/aesop-1073_quote_do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you_2139808.jpg) > ““Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.”” [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lead by example; you cannot instruct others unless you embody the behavior yourself. **In simple terms:** Set a good example before giving advice. Key Takeaway Practice what you preach. Themes leadership integrity example Mood inspirational didactic Type moral guidance When to use this quote - parenting - management - teamwork - public speaking Key Concepts ethical behavior role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your actions align with your advice? - What steps help maintain personal integrity? A Different Perspective People may doubt authenticity if past actions conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [The way to happiness requires that one set a good example for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/the-way-to-happiness-requires-that-one-set-a-good-example-for-others/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [If you set a good example you need not worry about setting rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/if-you-set-a-good-example-you-need-not-worry-about-setting-rules/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [I'm trying to set a good example. I don't need to take a high salary, which would impede the success of Morningstar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mansueto/i-m-trying-to-set-a-good-example-i-don-t-need-to-take-a-high-salary/) [Joe Mansueto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mansueto/) > [I set a good example with my way of being, eating, acting, speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-set-a-good-example-with-my-way-of-being-eating-acting-speaking/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [The professionals must set a good example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-bartlett-giamatti/the-professionals-must-set-a-good-example/) [A. Bartlett Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-bartlett-giamatti/) > [I've got two kids now, and I've got to set a good example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/i-ve-got-two-kids-now-and-i-ve-got-to-set-a-good-example/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [Actors are basically drag queens. People will tell you they act because they want to heal mankind or, you know, explore the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/actors-are-basically-drag-queens-people-will-tell-you-they-act/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [“I don’t give a damn, except that I get bored sometimes when people tell me to act my age. Sometimes I act a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-don-t-give-a-damn-except-that-i-get-bored-sometimes-when-people/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“I get bored sometimes when people tell me to act my age . sometimes I act a lot older than I am- I rally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-get-bored-sometimes-when-people-tell-me-to-act-my-age-sometimes-i/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [People will be quick to tell someone what they should do or how they should act when they messed up themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/people-will-be-quick-to-tell-someone-what-they-should-do-or-how-they/) Enhance Dreams > [“The thing they don't tell you in sex education classes is what to do after. It's all, "Don't do this, don't do that. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-verdi/the-thing-they-don-t-tell-you-in-sex-education-classes-is-what-to-do/) [Jessica Verdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-verdi/) > [“Somebody (not me) should tell them, when you act like you think you’re cute, you’re not. We”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-c-stevens/somebody-not-me-should-tell-them-when-you-act-like-you-think-you-re/) [Courtney C. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-c-stevens/) > [Be creative, be unique, be who you are.Dont let anyone tell you what you have to be or how you have to act.Stay true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshycrazyness/be-creative-be-unique-be-who-you-are-dont-let-anyone-tell-you-what/) [EwshyCrazyness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshycrazyness/) > [What people tell you and how they act is very, very different sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-systrom/what-people-tell-you-and-how-they-act-is-very-very-different-sometimes/) [Kevin Systrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-systrom/) > [Being a good example teaches others to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/being-a-good-example-teaches-others-to-be-good/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) ## More by Aesop > [“Lay not the blame on me, O sailor, but on the winds. By nature I am as calm and safe as the land itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/lay-not-the-blame-on-me-o-sailor-but-on-the-winds-by-nature-i-am-as/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [It is in vain to expect our prayers to be heard, if we do not strive as well as pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/it-is-in-vain-to-expect-our-prayers-to-be-heard-if-we-do-not-strive/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Beware of a wolf in sheep's clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/beware-of-a-wolf-in-sheep-s-clothing/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Better a long life of toil than a short one of ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/better-a-long-life-of-toil-than-a-short-one-of-ease/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Don't let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does, the truth - don't let that get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/don-t-let-your-special-character-and-values-the-secret-that-you-know/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Every man carries two bags about him, one in front and one behind, and both are full of faults. The bag in front contains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/every-man-carries-two-bags-about-him-one-in-front-and-one-behind-and/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [It pays to be content with your lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/it-pays-to-be-content-with-your-lot/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/be-content-with-your-lot-one-cannot-be-first-in-everything/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Equals make the best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/equals-make-the-best-friends/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [once upon a time all the rivers combined to protest against the action of the sea in making their waters salt. "When we come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/once-upon-a-time-all-the-rivers-combined-to-protest-against-the/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [In union there is strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/in-union-there-is-strength/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“Be content with your lot; once cannot be first in everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/be-content-with-your-lot-once-cannot-be-first-in-everything/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [False friends leave you in times of trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/false-friends-leave-you-in-times-of-trouble/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/better-beans-and-bacon-in-peace-than-cakes-and-ale-in-fear/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“The Sun is bad enough even while he is single, drying up our marshes with his heat as he does. But what will become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/the-sun-is-bad-enough-even-while-he-is-single-drying-up-our-marshes/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) [Explore all 297 Aesop quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) ## More Example quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [You can have examples of reasons to hate people, but if you analyze those reasons it's like, Oh, I'm hating that person based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlyne-yi/you-can-have-examples-of-reasons-to-hate-people-but-if-you-analyze/) [Charlyne Yi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlyne-yi/) > [The protestant world is in great need of examples (like these) that will beckon us to the fullness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/the-protestant-world-is-in-great-need-of-examples-like-these-that/) [Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I'm not the most vocal guy, but I try to lead by example every single day with how I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-m-not-the-most-vocal-guy-but-i-try-to-lead-by-example-every-single/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/but-actually-theory-is-very-practical-gravity-is-a-theory-for-example/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [I had the best example set by my parents for what a couple can - and, in my opinion, should - be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-had-the-best-example-set-by-my-parents-for-what-a-couple-can-and-in/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [America's freedom is the example to which the world expires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/america-s-freedom-is-the-example-to-which-the-world-expires/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) Browse all 5,618 Example quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aesop" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you-can-set-a-good-example/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Example" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you-can-set-a-good-example/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/aesop-1073_quote_do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you_2139808.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/aesop-1073_quote_do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you_2139808.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/aesop-1073_quote_do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you_2139808.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example.” — Aesop", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aesop", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Do not tell others how to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you-can-set-a-good-example/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/do-not-tell-others-how-to-act-unless-you-can-set-a-good-example/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```