--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Does not vanity itself cease to be…" description: "\"Does not vanity itself cease to be blamable, is it not even ennobled, when it is directed to laudable objects, when it confines itself to prompting us ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/denis-diderot-1536_action_does-not-vanity-itself-cease-to-be-blama_941956.jpg" --- # Does not vanity itself cease to be blamable, is it not… ![“Does not vanity itself cease to be blamable, is it not even ennobled, when it is directed to laudable objects, when it confines itself to prompting us to great and generous actions?” quote by Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/denis-diderot-1536_action_does-not-vanity-itself-cease-to-be-blama_941956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/denis-diderot-1536_action_does-not-vanity-itself-cease-to-be-blama_941956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/denis-diderot-1536_action_does-not-vanity-itself-cease-to-be-blama_941956.jpg) > “Does not vanity itself cease to be blamable, is it not even ennobled, when it is directed to laudable objects, when it confines itself to prompting us to great and generous actions?” [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vanity can be morally neutral if it motivates noble deeds, but it remains risky. **In simple terms:** Vanity can be good when it drives virtue. Key Takeaway Channel pride toward worthy goals. Themes ethics pride motivation virtue Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership - public service - creative projects - personal development Key Concepts moral philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - What causes you to direct pride toward good? - How can you ensure your motives stay pure? A Different Perspective If the object is not truly laudable, vanity becomes corrupt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Blamable Ennobled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blamable-ennobled-1615725/) [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-vanity-1615724/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Laudable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laudable-862887/) [Laudable Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laudable-objects-1615726/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Vanity Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity-cease-1615723/) ## Related quotes > [In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/in-my-opinion-he-only-may-be-truly-said-to-live-and-enjoy-his-being/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Desire of praise disposeth to laudable actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/desire-of-praise-disposeth-to-laudable-actions/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [The desire for wealth is nearly universal, and none can say it is not laudable, provided the possessor of it accepts its responsibilities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/the-desire-for-wealth-is-nearly-universal-and-none-can-say-it-is-not/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [You can not fail in any laudable object, unless you allow your mind to be improperly directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/you-can-not-fail-in-any-laudable-object-unless-you-allow-your-mind-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The foundations and the intent of the Affordable Care Act are laudable. The way it's being implemented is a disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-soon-shiong/the-foundations-and-the-intent-of-the-affordable-care-act-are/) [Patrick Soon-Shiong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-soon-shiong/) > [To lend money without interest, is certainly an action laudable and extremely good; but it is obvious, that it is only a counsel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/to-lend-money-without-interest-is-certainly-an-action-laudable-and/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Our affections, however laudable, in this transitory world, should never master us; we should guide them, guide them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/our-affections-however-laudable-in-this-transitory-world-should-never/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I'm really encouraged by Pope Francis, because I think his attitude is totally laudable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-m-really-encouraged-by-pope-francis-because-i-think-his-attitude-is/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [He who would not be frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things ought himself to be a true poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/he-who-would-not-be-frustrate-of-his-hope-to-write-well-hereafter-in/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Without a function, we cease to be. So, I will write till I die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farley-mowat/without-a-function-we-cease-to-be-so-i-will-write-till-i-die/) [Farley Mowat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farley-mowat/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [In the name of Jerusalem. If I forget the extermination of the Jews, may my right hand wither, may my tongue stick to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/in-the-name-of-jerusalem-if-i-forget-the-extermination-of-the-jews/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Denis Diderot > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [One declaims endlessly against the passions; one imputes all of man's suffering to them. One forgets that they are also the source of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/one-declaims-endlessly-against-the-passions-one-imputes-all-of-man-s/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Time, matter, space - all, it may be, are no more than a point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/time-matter-space-all-it-may-be-are-no-more-than-a-point/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/we-are-far-more-liable-to-catch-the-vices-than-the-virtues-of-our/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [One composition is meagre, though it has many figures; another is rich, though it has few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/one-composition-is-meagre-though-it-has-many-figures-another-is-rich/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [I have only a small flickering light to guide me in the darkness of a thick forest. 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Putting things in order always means getting other people under your control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/watch-out-for-the-fellow-who-talks-about-putting-things-in-order/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [“Nie wiem, co to zasady, chyba że tak nazywamy prawidła, które przypisuje się innym, a nie sobie. Myślę tak, a nie umiałbym się powstrzymać…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/nie-wiem-co-to-zasady-chyba-e-tak-nazywamy-prawid-a-kt-re-przypisuje/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [There is no good father who would want to resemble our Heavenly Father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/there-is-no-good-father-who-would-want-to-resemble-our-heavenly-father/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Isn't it better to have men being ungrateful than to miss a chance to do good?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/isn-t-it-better-to-have-men-being-ungrateful-than-to-miss-a-chance-to/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [A nation which thinks that it is belief in God and not good law which makes people honest does not seem to me very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/a-nation-which-thinks-that-it-is-belief-in-god-and-not-good-law-which/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) [Explore all 210 Denis Diderot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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