Approving Quotes

• Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.

  Andrew Carnegie

  Inspirational, Life, Motivation

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• It is a wise child that knows its own father, and an unusual one that unreservedly approves of him.

  Mark Twain

  Funny, Wise, Fathers Day

  Mark Twain (2012). “Mark Twain at Your Fingertips: A Book of Quotations”, p.121, Courier Corporation

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• Grace is not looking for good men whom it may approve, for it is not grace but mere justice to approve goodness. [Rather] it is looking for condemned, guilty, speechless and helpless men whom it may save, sanctify and glorify.

  C. I. Scofield

  Kindness, Men, Justice

  85 Copy quote

• Affirming words from moms and dads are like light switches. Speak a word of affirmation at the right moment in a child's life and it's like lighting up a whole roomful of possibilities.

  Gary Smalley

  Mom, Dad, Children

  Gary Smalley, John T. Trent (1995). “Leaving the Light On: Building the Memories That Will Draw Kids Home”, Multnomah

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• You need not fear me, for I not only should think it wrong to marry a man that was deficient in sense or in principle, but I should never be tempted to do it; for I could not like him, if he were ever so handsome, and ever so charming, in other respects; I should hate him—despise him—pity him—anything but love him.  My affections not only ought to be founded on approbation, but they will and must be so: for, without approving, I cannot love.  It is needless to say, I ought to be able to respect and honour the man I marry, as well as love him, for I cannot love him without.

  Anne Bronte

  Hate, Men, Thinking

  Anne Bronte (2009). “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: Easyread Comfort Edition”, p.211, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.

  Louise Hay

  Inspirational, Positive, Self Esteem

  Louise L. Hay (2009). “You Can Heal Your Life”, p.20, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• Walking abroad, one is the admiration of all little boys, and meets an approving glance from every eye of elderly.

  Wilfred Owen

  War, Eye, Boys

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• How quick come the reasons for approving what we like!

  Jane Austen

  Math, Approval, Logic

  Jane Austen (2013). “Persuasion In Modern English”, p.145, BookCaps Study Guides

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• Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.

  Alain de Benoist

  Class, Immigration, Firsts

  30 Copy quote

• Approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be 'perceived as favoring one religion over another,' the very 'risk the [Constitution's] Establishment Clause was designed to preclude.

  Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  Religious, Risk, Establishment Clause

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• Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart. One self-approving hour whole years outweighs Of stupid starers and of loud huzzas; And more true joy Marcellus exil'd feels Than Cæsar with a senate at his heels. In parts superior what advantage lies? Tell (for you can) what is it to be wise? 'T is but to know how little can be known; To see all others' faults, and feel our own.

  Alexander Pope

  Wise, Lying, Stupid

  Alexander Pope (1815). “Poetical works”, p.247

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• Toil on, son, and do not lose heart or hope. Let nothing you dismay. You are not utterly forsaken. I, too, am here--here in the darkness waiting, here attentive, here approving of your labor and your dream.

  Thomas Wolfe

  Dream, Heart, Son

  Thomas Wolfe (2016). “You Can't Go Home Again”, p.524, Thomas Wolfe

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• I noticed you right away." She gave me an approving look. "I like quiet, polite men. And men who wear Hugo Boss. I was hoping you weren't gay. Or that you were only half-gay. Like Paul." "Uh...sorry," I said. "It's pretty much full-time now. The pay's not great, but the perks...

  Josh Lanyon

  Sorry, Gay, Men

  4 Copy quote

• Aunt Petunia burst into tears. Hestia Jones gave her an approving look that changed to outrage as Aunt Petunia ran forward and embraced Dudley rather than Harry. 'S-so sweet, Dudders...' she sobbed into his massive chest. 'S-such a lovely b-boy...s-saying thank you...' 'But he hadn't said thank you at all!' said Hestia indignantly. 'He only said he didn't think Harry was a waste of space!' 'Yeah, but coming from Dudley that's like "I love you.

  J. K. Rowling

  Sweet, Love You, Thinking

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• A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and their motives - of approving of some and disapproving of others.

  Charles Darwin

  Inspirational, Life, Past

  Charles Darwin “Charles Darwin: An Anthology”, Transaction Publishers

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• As soon as men know that they can kill without fear of punishment or blame, they kill; or at least they encourage killers with approving smiles.

  Simone Weil

  Encouragement, Punishment, Killers

  Simone Weil (2015). “Selected Essays, 1934-1943: Historical, Political, and Moral Writings”, p.174, Wipf and Stock Publishers

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• …though I wouldn’t have admitted it, even to myself, I didn’t want God aboard. He was too heavy. I wanted Him approving from a considerable distance. I didn’t want to be thinking of Him. I wanted to be free—like Gypsy. I wanted life itself, the color and fire and loveliness of life. And Christ now and then, like a loved poem I could read when I wanted to. I didn’t want us to be swallowed up in God. I wanted holidays from the school of Christ.

  Sheldon Vanauken

  Distance, School, Holiday

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• Apparently with no surprise To any happy Flower The Frost beheads it at its play -- In accidental power -- The blonde Assassin passes on -- The Sun proceeds unmoved To measure off another Day For an Approving God.

  Emily Dickinson

  Flower, Play, Blonde

  Emily Dickinson (1994). “The Works of Emily Dickinson”, p.98, Wordsworth Editions

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• The phrase "It's absolutely the same with me, I..." seems to be an approving echo, a way of continuing the other's thought, but that is an illusion: in reality it is a brute revolt against a brutal violence, an effort to free our own ear from bondage and to occupy the enemy's ear by force. Because all of man's life among his kind is nothing other than a battle to seize the ear of others.

  Milan Kundera

  Reality, Men, Echoes

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• Jamie chose that moment to almost fall down the stairs. Mae took his whole weight and grabbed the banister. Seb reached out but Jamie shied away, and Nick gave Jamie a push in the chest that was clearly intended to right him, but that nearly had him toppling over backward. Balance eventually restored to them all, Jamie gave Nick an approving look. "You are my friend," he told him. "Yeah, I am," said Nick. "But these stairs," Jamie said sadly. "They are not my friends.

  Sarah Rees Brennan

  Fall, Balance, Looks

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• We make our own choices, and then we present the matter to the Lord and get his approving, ratifying seal.

  Bruce R. McConkie

  Choices, Matter, Lord

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• We are very much like them: indiscriminate killers, ruled by drives little acknowledged and less understood, mindlessly territorial and murderously jealous - the only significant difference being that they have yet to master our expertise in hypocrisy, the gift of our superior intellect that enables us to slaughter one another in droves, more often than not under the auspices of an approving god!

  Rick Yancey

  Jealous, Differences, Hypocrisy

  Rick Yancey (2010). “The Monstrumologist: The Terror Beneath”, p.259, Simon and Schuster

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• Now listen, we need to be quiet as mice. No, quieter than that. As quiet as...as..." "Dead mice?" Reynie suggested. "Perfect," said Kate with an approving nod. "As quiet as dead mice.

  Trenton Lee Stewart

  Perfect, Needs, Quiet

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• Loving the self, to me, begins with never ever criticizing ourselves for anything. Criticism locks us into the very pattern we are trying to change. Understanding and being gentle with ourselves helps us to move out of it. Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.

  Louise Hay

  Moving, Remember You, Remembers You

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• Animated by Christian motives and directed to Christian ends, it shall in no wise go unrewarded: here, by the testimony of an approving conscience; hereafter, by the benediction of our blessed Redeemer, and a brighter inheritance his Father's house.

  Richard Mant

  Christian, Wise, Father

  Richard Mant (bp. of Down, Connor and Dromore.) (1838). “The Church and her ministrations: discourses”, p.286

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