True modesty avoids everything that is criminal; false modesty everything…

True modesty avoids everything that is criminal; false modesty everything that is unfashionable.

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Joseph Addison, The Spectator No. 458 15 August 1712

Other Modesty Quotes

The first of all virtues is innocence; the next is modesty. - View Quote Details on The first of all virtues is innocence; the next is…
You little know what you have done, when you have first broke the bounds of modesty; you have set open the door of your fancy to the devil, so that he can, almost at his pleasure ever after, represent the same sinful pleasure to you anew. - View Quote Details on You little know what you have done, when you have…
Modesty once extinguished knows not how to return. - View Quote Details on Modesty once extinguished knows not how to return.
The mark of the man of the world is absence of pretension. He does not make a speech; he takes a low business-tone, avoids all brag, is nobody, dresses plainly, promises not at all, performs much, speaks in monosyllables, hugs his fact. He calls his employment by its lowest name, and so takes from evil tongues their sharpest weapon. - View Quote Details on The mark of the man of the world is absence…
In short, if you banish modesty out of the world, she carries away with her half the virtue that is in it. - View Quote Details on In short, if you banish modesty out of the world,…
I do good by stealth but never speak of myself; for it is done in my absence. Neither do I lower my head to anyone but God, nor do I permit anyone to lower theirs to me. - View Quote Details on I do good by stealth but never speak of myself;…
A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of. It heightens all the virtues which it accompanies; like the shades in paintings, it raises and rounds every figure, and makes the colours more beautiful, though not so glaring as they would be without it. - View Quote Details on A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence,…
Modesty never rages, never murmurs, never pouts; when it is ill-treated, it pines, it beseeches, it languishes. - View Quote Details on Modesty never rages, never murmurs, never pouts; when it is…
On the contrary, modesty seldom resides in a breast that is not enriched with nobler virtues. - View Quote Details on On the contrary, modesty seldom resides in a breast that…
The man who is ostentatious of his modesty is twin to the statue that wears a figleaf. - View Quote Details on The man who is ostentatious of his modesty is twin…