Vain Quotes

986 Vain quotes by 692 unique authors

Our repugnance to death increases in proportion to our consciousness of having lived in vain. — William Hazlitt
No preacher is listened to but time, which gives us the same train and turn of thought that elder people have in vain tried to… — Jonathan Swift
Never was flattery lost on a poet's ear; a simple race, they waste their toil for the vain tribute of a smile. — Walter Scott
I'd be a dog, a monkey, or a bear, or anything but that vain animal who is so proud of being rational. — John Wilmot
The black masses want not to be shrunk from as though they are plague-ridden. They want not to be walled up in slums, in the… — Malcolm X
The whole history of these books (i.e. the Gospels) is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and… — Thomas Jefferson
It is not vain glory for a man and his glass to confer in his own chamber. — William Shakespeare
It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them, it is still with our legs that we must walk. And on… — Michel de Montaigne
A long and wicked life followed by five minutes of perfect grace gets you into Heaven. An equally long life of decent living and good… — Robert A. Heinlein
Most bad books get that way because their authors are engaged in trying to justify themselves. If a vain author is an alcoholic, then the… — Stephen Vizinczey
Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed. — Leo Rosten
Nowadays the world is becoming increasingly materialistic, and mankind is reaching toward the very zenith of external progress, driven by an insatiable desire for power… — Dalai Lama
His whole being radiates a pure, wild sweetness, flitting through night woods with little melodious cries, on some cryptic errand. There is also an aura… — William S. Burroughs
In God's world, for those who are in earnest, there is no failure. No work truly done, no word earnestly spoken, no sacrifice freely made,… — Frederick William Robertson
It is in vain to hope to please all alike. Let a man stand with his face in what direction he will, he must necessarily… — George D. Prentice
Of what use are the great number of petrifactions, of different species, shape and form which are dug up by naturalists? Perhaps the collection of… — Carl Linnaeus
Reality has no security and that is its beauty. Life has no security and that is its beauty. Because there is no security, there is… — Rajneesh
Their sacrifice was great, but not in vain. All Americans and every free nation on earth can trace their liberty to the white markers of… — George W. Bush
A generous prayer is never presented in vain; the petition may be refused, but the petitioner is always, I believe, rewarded by some gracious visitation. — Robert Louis Stevenson
The praise that comes of love does not make us vain, but humble rather. Knowing what we are, the pride that shines in our mother's… — James M. Barrie
Laws without morals are in vain. — Benjamin Franklin
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute to… — George Washington
After the birth of printing books became widespread. Hence everyone throughout Europe devoted himself to the study of literature... Every year, especially since 1563, the… — Johannes Kepler
So is not mathematical analysis then not just a vain game of the mind? To the physicist it can only give a convenient language; but… — Henri Poincare
Their vain presumption of knowing all can take beginning solely from their never having known anything; for if one has but once experienced the perfect… — Galileo Galilei

Who Wrote These Vain Quotes

692 authors contributed a total of 986 Vain Quotes, led by these top contributors: