Earnest Quotes - Page 8

• The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does the reverse. . . . The nobler sort of man pays special attention to nine points. He is anxious to see clearly, to hear distinctly, to be kindly in his looks, respectful in his demeanor, conscientious in his speech, earnest in his affairs. When in doubt, he is careful to inquire; when in anger, he thinks of the consequences; when offered an opportunity for gain, he thinks only of his duty.

  Confucius

  Opportunity, Men, Thinking

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• Knowledge of those unalterable Relations which Providence has ordained that every thing should bear to every other...To these we should conform in good Earnest; and not think to force Nature, and the whole Order of her System, by a Compliance with our Pride, and Folly, to conform to our artificial Regulations.

  Edmund Burke

  Pride, Thinking, Order

  Edmund Burke (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Edmund Burke (Illustrated)”, p.24, Delphi Classics

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• Self Esteem::"It is very easy in the world to live by the opinion of the world. It is very easy in solitude to be self-centered. But the finished man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. I knew a man of simple habits and earnest character who never put out his hands nor opened his lips to court the public, and having survived several rotten reputations of younger men, honor came at last and sat down with him upon his private bench from which he had never stirred."

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Self Esteem, Character, Simple

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• And truly it demands something god like in him who has cast off the common motives of humanity, and has ventured to trust himself for a taskmaster. High be his heart, faithful his will, clear his sight, that he may in good earnest be doctrine, society, law, to himself, that a simple purpose may be to him as strong as iron necessity is to others!

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Strong, Heart, Simple

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (2012). “Self-Reliance and Other Essays”, p.32, Courier Corporation

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• A great factory with the machinery all working and revolving with absolute and rhythmic regularity and with the men all driven by one impulse, and moving in unison as though a constituent part of the mighty machine, is one of the most inspiring examples of directed force that the world knows. I have rarely seen the face of a mechanic in the action of creation which was not fine, never one which was not earnest and impressive.

  Thomas Nelson Page

  Moving, Men, World

  Thomas Nelson Page (2008). “John Marvel, Assistant”, p.354, Wildside Press LLC

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• In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles of it, to compare them with the principles of other governments, with a constant eye to our particular situation and circumstances, and thus endeavor to foresee the future operations of our own system, and its effects upon human happiness. Convinced of this truth, I have no apology to offer for the following remarks, but an earnest desire to be useful to my country.

  Noah Webster

  Country, Eye, Apology

  Noah Webster (1787). “An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed by the Late Convention Held at Philadelphia: With Answers to the Principal Objections that Have Been Raised Against the System”, p.6

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• Perhaps myself the first, at some expense of popularity, to unfold the true character of Jefferson, it is too late for me to become his apologist. Nor can I have any disposition to do it. I admit that his politics are tinctured with fanaticism, that he is too much in earnest in his democracy, that he has been a mischievous enemy to the principle measures of our past administration, that he is crafty & persevering in his objects, that he is not scrupulous about the means of success, nor very mindful of truth, and that he is a contemptible hypocrite.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Truth, Character, Hypocrite

  Alexander Hamilton (1851). “Correspondence [contin.] 1795-1804; 1777; 1791. Letters of H.G. 1789. Address to public creditors. 1790. Vindication of funding system. 1791”, p.419

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• Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.

  Confucius

  Character, Men, Practice

  Confucius (2016). “Delphi Collected Works of Confucius - Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism (Illustrated)”, p.28, Delphi Classics

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• ...that melancholy which we feel when we cease to obey orders which, from one day to another, keep the future hidden, and realise that we have at last begun to live in real earnest, as a grown-up person, the life, the only life that any of us has at his disposal.

  Marcel Proust

  Real, Order, One Day

  Marcel Proust (2006). “Remembrance of Things Past”, p.281, Wordsworth Editions

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• Grace is the seed of glory, the dawning of glory in the heart, and therefore grace is the earnest of the future inheritance.

  Jonathan Edwards

  Heart, Grace, Inheritance

  Jonathan Edwards (2013). “The Religious Affections”, p.162, Courier Corporation

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• Did you fall in love with her?" "I care about her. A lot." "You're not supposed to marry someone if you don't fall in love with her." "Well, love is a choice, too." Holly shook her head. "I think it's something that happens to you." Mark smiled into her small, earnest face. "Maybe it's both," he said, and tucked her in.

  Lisa Kleypas

  Falling In Love, Love Is, Thinking

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• I opened my eyes and met his dark, earnest gaze. "It's okay," I said. "It's okay now. I'm here I'll always be here for you.

  Richelle Mead

  Eye, Dark, Said

  Richelle Mead (2013). “Vampire Academy: The Complete Collection”, p.1245, Penguin

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• Just because he was pretty didn't mean he couldn't be improved by a smack upside the head with a piece of earnest hickory

  Christopher Moore

  Mean, Pieces, Smack

  Christopher Moore (2009). “The Stupidest Angel (v2.0): A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror”, p.27, Harper Collins

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• A man who says, 'I want to change, tell me how to', seems very earnest, very serious, but he is not. He wants an authority whom he hopes will bring about order in himself. But can authority ever bring about inward order? Order imposed from without must always breed disorder.

  Jiddu Krishnamurti

  Men, Order, Inward

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• Honest and earnest criticism from those whose interests are most nearly touched,- criticism of writers by readers, of government by those governed, of leaders by those led, - this is the soul of democracy and the safeguard of modern society

  W. E. B. Du Bois

  Government, Leader, Soul

  W. E. B. Du Bois (2014). “The Souls of Black Folk: The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois”, p.49, Oxford University Press

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• TEACHER seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person.

  Daniel Quinn

  Teacher, Desire, World

  Daniel Quinn (2009). “My Ishmael”, p.3, Bantam

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• Lose the day loitering, 'twill be the same story To-morrow, and the next more dilatory, For indecision brings its own delays, And days are lost lamenting o'er lost days. Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute! What you can do, or think you can, begin it! Only engage, and then the mind grows heated; Begin it, and the work will be completed.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Thinking, Mind, Stories

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1906). “Faust, a Dramatic Mystery”

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• Deeply earnest and thoughtful people stand on shaky footing with the public.

  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  Thoughtful, People, Literature

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• Despair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding, and to fulfill their requirements. Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.

  Hermann Hesse

  Children, Justice, Understanding

  Hermann Hesse (2013). “The Journey to the East: A Novel”, p.106, Macmillan

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• I cannot get him to write or speak in real, solid earnest. I don't much mind it now, but if it be always so, what shall I do with the serious part of myself?

  Anne Bronte

  Real, Writing, Mind

  Anne Bronte (2009). “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: Easyread Large Bold Edition”, p.299, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• The first professional play I ever saw was The Importance Of Being Earnest, and I just fell in love.

  Kim Cattrall

  Play, Saws, Firsts

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• We ought to be as earnest and frequent in our prayers of thanksgiving when the cupboard is full as we would be in our prayers of supplication if the cupboards were bare.

  Jerry Bridges

  Prayer, Would Be, Cupboards

  Jerry Bridges (2016). “Trusting God”, p.212, NavPress

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• I like it that they [disciples] feed me and pay for my clothes and protect me. And in return I will do for them what I can, but no more than that. Just as I cannot breathe the breath of another or help the heart of someone else to beat or their bones not to weaken or their flesh not to shrivel, I cannot say more than I can say. And I know how deeply this disturbs them, and it would make me smile, this earnest need for foolish anecdote or sharp simple patterns in the story of what happened to us all, except that I have forgotten how to smile.

  Colm Toibin

  Heart, Simple, Clothes

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• You can’t run away. The past will be only too happy to chase you —- in absolute, complete, and total earnest. Do you know why? Because they’re lonely. The past and memories are very lonely things. I don’t believe in God. Because he doesn’t have a fixed form. The past certainly does exist, even in a world where the future doesn’t have a fixed form. Even if it’s being colored by misunderstandings and delusions, a person’s past can’t be anything but the truth as long as he believes in it. If that’s what you base your actions or your way of life on, isn’t that like being god?

  Ryohgo Narita

  Running, Lonely, Memories

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• I've traveled all over the world for the Institute, but I never dreamed I'd meet someone like you." "Strong?" A chuckle escaped her. "Yes." "Handsome?" "Of course." "Sharp of wit and skilled with a sword?" "Absolutely." An other chuckle. "But I mean a man… friend… guy. Oh, I don't know what to call you!" He savored her amusement—and her earnest words. "Just call me yours. That is all I want to be." (Ashlyn and Maddox)

  Gena Showalter

  Strong, Mean, Men

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