---
title: "2 John William Mackail Quotes - Famous Literary historian (Virgil and His Meaning to the World of To-day)"
description: "John William Mackail was a Scottish academic of the University of Oxford and reformer of the British education system."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-john-william-mackail-52506.jpg"
---

![Portrait of John William Mackail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b014/author-john-william-mackail-52506.jpg)

# John William Mackail

(1859–1945)   Literary Historian

 **2** quotes in **27** categories

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John William Mackail was a literary historian, best known for *Virgil and His Meaning to the World of To-day*.

## Quick Facts About John William Mackail

Born August 26, 1859

Died December 13, 1945

Profession Literary Historian

Notable works Virgil and His Meaning to the World of To-day

## About John William Mackail

John William Mackail was a Scottish academic of the University of Oxford and reformer of the British education system.

##  Quotes by John William Mackail

> [Before you give advice, that is to say advice which you have not been asked to give, it is well to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-william-mackail/before-you-give-advice-that-is-to-say-advice-which-you-have-not-been/)

[John William Mackail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-william-mackail/)

[Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/john-william-mackail-99062_advice_before-you-give-advice-that-is-to-say-ad_165995.jpg)

> [The desire to give advice is itself a symptom of disapproval; and further, it is usually the result of a desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-william-mackail/the-desire-to-give-advice-is-itself-a-symptom-of-disapproval-and/)

[John William Mackail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-william-mackail/)

[Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/john-william-mackail-99062_advice_the-desire-to-give-advice-is-itself-a-sy_1917231.jpg)

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                        "text": "Before you give advice, that is to say advice which you have not been asked to give, it is well to put to yourself two questions - namely, what is your motive for giving it, and what is it likely to be worth? If these questions were always asked, and honestly answered, there would be less advice given.",
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