Maxims Quotes - Page 3

• Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields, or if it beats you sometimes, dare it again and you will succeed.

  William Makepeace Thackeray

  Life, Success, Men

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• They who have reasoned ignorantly, or who have aimed at effecting their personal ends by flattering the popular feeling, have boldly affirmed that 'one man is as good as another'; a maxim that is true in neither nature, revealed morals, nor political theory.

  James F. Cooper

  Men, Political, Feelings

  "The American Democrat: Or, Hints on the Social and Civic Relations of the United States of America". Book by James F. Cooper, 1838.

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• These maxims and the art of interpreting them may be said to constitute the premisses of science but I prefer to call them our scientific beliefs. These premisses or beliefs are embodied in a tradition, the tradition of science.

  Michael Polanyi

  Art, May, Belief

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• You know, I'd love to do a Maxim shoot. But I'm not going to do it, because that's just stupid to do.

  Christy Carlson Romano

  Stupid, Knows

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• In the gay (Catholic) community, it would seem, the maxim is: love the sin and love the sinner, but hate anyone who calls it a sin or him a sinner.

  Richard John Neuhaus

  Hate, Gay, Community

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• I shall earnestly and persistently continue to urge all women to the practical recognition of the old Revolutionary maxim. Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.

  Susan B. Anthony

  Resistance, Recognition, Revolutionary

  Lynn Sherr, Susan B. Anthony (1995). “Failure Is Impossible: Susan B. Anthony in Her Own Words”, Crown

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• In the maxim of the past you cannot go anywhere.

  Maxim Gorky

  Past, Carriages

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• It is a maxim of old that among themselves all things are common to friends.

  Jean Racine

  Common, All Things

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• Wish not so much to live long as to live well.

  Benjamin Franklin

  4th Of July, Long, Wish

  Benjamin Franklin (2013). “Poor Richard's Almanack”, p.45, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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• Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.

  John Wooden

  Basketball, Motivational Sports, Character

  Andrew Hill, John Wooden (2002). “Be Quick - But Don't Hurry: Finding Success in the Teachings of a Lifetime”, p.114, Simon and Schuster

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• Rather perish than hate and fear, and twice rather perish than make oneself hated and feared — this must some day become the highest maxim for every single commonwealth.

  Friedrich Nietzsche

  Hate, Miscellaneous, Commonwealth

  Friedrich Nietzsche (1977). “The Portable Nietzsche”, p.52, Penguin

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• A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired. This maxim, drawn from the experience of all ages, makes it the height of folly to intrust any set of men with power which is not under every possible control; perpetual strides are made after more as long as there is any part withheld.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Men, Long, Abuse

  Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc”, p.84

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• My Son, these maxims make a rule An lump them ay thegither: The Rigid Righteous is a fool, The Rigid Wise anither.

  Robert Burns

  Wise, Son, Fool

  Robert Burns, Mr. Thomson (George) (1809). “Poems formerly published, with some additions,and a history of these poems, by Gilbert Burns”, p.113

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• A good maxim allows you to have the last word without even starting a conversation.

  Nassim Nicholas Taleb

  Lasts, Conversation, Starting

  Nassim Nicholas Taleb (2016). “Incerto 4-Book Bundle: Fooled by Randomness The Black Swan The Bed of Procrustes Antifragile”, p.1748, Random House

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• Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxims.

  Jane Austen

  Fate, Opinion, Favourite

  Jane Austen (2007). “The Complete Novels of Jane Austen”, p.230, Wordsworth Editions

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• Humans have a saying that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", which basically means that if you think it's beautiful, then it is beautiful. The elfin version of this saying was composed by the great poet B.O Selecta, who said "Even the plainest of the plain shall deign to reign", which critics have always thought was a bit rhymey. The dwarf version of this maxim is "If it don't stink, marry it", which is slightly less romantic, but the general gist is the same.

  Eoin Colfer

  Beautiful, Mean, Eye

  Eoin Colfer (2014). “Artemis Fowl:”, p.865, Penguin UK

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• These illustrations suggest four general maxims[...]. The first is: remember that your motives are not always as altruistic as they seem to yourself. The second is: don't over-estimate your own merits. The third is: don't expect others to take as much interest in you as you do yourself. And the fourth is: don't imagine that most people give enough thought to you to have any special desire to persecute you.

  Bertrand Russell

  Illustration, People, Giving

  Bertrand Russell (2015). “The Conquest of Happiness”, p.68, Lulu Press, Inc

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• Once in Persia reigned a king
  Who upon his signet ring
  Graved a maxim true and wise,
  Which if held before the eyes
  Gave him counsel at a glance
  Fit for every change and chance.
  Solemn words, and these are they:
  "Even this shall pass away."

  Theodore Tilton

  Wise, Time, Kings

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• Called to the throne by the voice of the people, my maxim has always been: A career open to talent without distinction of birth. It is this system of equality for which the European oligarchy detests me

  Napoleon Bonaparte

  Equality, Careers, Voice

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• Experience has repeatedly confirmed that well-known maxim of Bacon's that 'a little philosophy inclineth a man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.' At the same time, when Bacon penned that sage epigram... he forgot to add that the God to whom depth in philosophy brings back men's minds is far from being the same from whom a little philosophy estranges them.

  George Santayana

  God, Philosophy, Men

  George Santayana (1954). “The Life of Reason ; Or, The Phases of Human Progress. One-volume Ed”

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• It is a maxim that will endure: To truly know the living God, this begets humility.

  Miguel de Molinos

  God, Humility, Endure

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• When the conduct of men is designed to be influenced, persuasion, kind, unassuming persuasion, should ever be adopted. It is an old and a true maxim, that 'a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.'

  Abraham Lincoln

  Leadership, Men, Inspire

  Abraham Lincoln (2008). “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln”, p.273, Wildside Press LLC

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• When in doubt, tell the truth. That maxim I did invent, but never expected it to be applied to me. I did say, "When you are in doubt," but when I am in doubt myself I use more sagacity.

  Mark Twain

  Truth, Doubt, Use

  Mark Twain (2008). “Mark Twain's Speeches: Easyread Large Bold Edition”, p.393, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Truth, Lying, Believe

  Abraham Lincoln (1989). “Abraham Lincoln: Speeches & Writings Part 1: 1832-1858: Library of America #45”, p.141, Library of America

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• Great men,
  Till they have gained their ends, are giants in
  Their promises, but, those obtained, weak pigmies
  In their performance. And it is a maxim
  Allowed among them, so they may deceive,
  They may swear anything; for the queen of love,
  As they hold constantly, does never punish,
  But smile, at lovers' perjuries.

  Philip Massinger

  Life, Queens, Men

  Philip Massinger (1848). “The Dramatic Works of Massinger and Ford. With an introduction, by Hartley Coleridge”, p.175

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