Superiority Quotes - Page 2

• The superiority of one man's opinion over another's is never so great as when the opinion is about a woman.

  Henry James

  Men, Judging, Literature

  1890 The Tragic Muse, ch.9.

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• The principal axiom in their theory was: Everything can be proved, and everything can be disproved; and in the process, one must profit as much from the folly of others, and from his own superiority, as he can.

  Moses Mendelssohn

  Process, Profit, Theory

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• Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.

  George Washington

  4th Of July, Army, Numbers

  George Washington, John Clement Fitzpatrick, David Maydole Matteson (1777). “The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799”, p.359

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• Pride attaches undue importance to the superiority of one's status in the eyes of others; and shame is fear of humiliation at one's inferior status in the estimation of others. When one sets one's heart on being highly esteemed, and achieves such rating, then he or she is automatically involved in fear of losing status.

  Laozi

  Heart, Eye, Pride

  "Tao Teh King". Translated by Archie J. Bahm, 1996.

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• Man's characteristic privilege is that the bond he accepts is not physical but moral; that is, social. He is governed not by a material environment brutally imposed on him, but by a conscience superior to his own, the superiority of which he feels. Because the greater, better part of his existence transcends the body, he escapes the body's yoke, but is subject to that of society.

  Emile Durkheim

  Men, Society, Yoke

  Emile Durkheim (2005). “Suicide: A Study in Sociology”, p.213, Routledge

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• Be more than man, or thou'rt less than an ant.

  John Donne

  Men, Ants

  John Donne (1839). “The works of John Donne”, p.491

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• What is the thread of western civilization that distinguished its course in history? It has to do with the preoccupation of western man with his outward command and his sense of superiority.

  Arthur Erickson

  Men, Civilization, Preoccupation

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• Look in the mirror, and don't be tempted to equate transient domination with either intrinsic superiority or prospects for extended survival.

  Stephen Jay Gould

  Thinking, Mirrors, Perspective

  Stephen Jay Gould (2011). “Full House”, p.73, Harvard University Press

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• The natural superiority of women is a biological fact, and a socially acknowledged reality.

  Ashley Montagu

  Women, Reality, Facts

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• There is an infinite difference between a little wrong and just right, between fairly good and the best, between mediocrity and superiority.

  Orison Swett Marden

  Differences, Excellence, Mediocrity

  Orison Swett Marden (1997). “Exceptional Employee”, p.125

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• The sun as the expression of old world energy is torn down from the heavens by modern man, who by virtue of his technological superiority creates his own energy source.

  El Lissitzky

  Men, Expression, Heaven

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• The critics can say stupid things and we can enjoy them, if we have the legitimate feeling of superiority - the satisfaction of a duty accomplished.

  Paul Gauguin

  Stupid, Feelings, Satisfaction

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• The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.

  Samuel Johnson

  Greatness, Men, Littles

  Samuel Johnson (1782). “The Beauties of Johnson: Consisting of Maxims and Observations, Moral, Critical, and Miscellaneous”, p.231

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• Superiority is always detested.

  Baltasar Gracian

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• Jealousy is the fear or apprehension of superiority: envy our uneasiness under it.

  William Shenstone

  Jealousy, Envy, Envious

  William Shenstone (1804). “Essays on Men and Manners”, p.137

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• Perhaps no sin so easily besets us as a sense of self-satisfied superiority to others.

  William Osler

  Self, Sin, Satisfied

  Sir William Osler, Mark E. Silverman, T. J. Murray, Charles S. Bryan, American College of Physicians--American Society of Internal Medicine (2003). “The Quotable Osler”, p.9, ACP Press

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• I would rather have an inferiority complex and be pleasantly surprised, than have a superiority complex and be rudely awakened.

  Vanna Bonta

  Inferiority, Superiority Complex, Complexes

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• Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.

  Sydney J. Harris

  Acceptance, Tolerance, Assuming

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• In fact, there is clear evidence of black intellectual superiority: in 1984, 92 percent of blacks voted to retire Ronald Reagan, compared to only 36 percent of whites.

  Barbara Ehrenreich

  Black, Intellectual, Facts

  Barbara Ehrenreich (1990). “WORST YEARS OF OUR LIVES”, Pantheon

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• Every day confirms my opinion on the superiority of a vicious life, and if Virtue is not its own reward, I don't know any other stipend annexed to it.

  Lord Byron

  Life, Vices, Literature

  "Lord Byron", www.theguardian.com. July 22, 2008.

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• Pretensions to moral superiority are devastatingly destructive.

  Mary Douglas

  Moral, Pretension, Destructive

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• Spiritual superiority only sees the individual. But alas, ordinarily we human beings are sensual and, therefore, as soon as it is a gathering, the impression changes - we see something abstract, the crowd, and we become different. But in the eyes of God, the infinite spirit, all the millions that have lived and now live do not make a crowd, He only sees each individual.

  Soren Kierkegaard

  Life, Spiritual, Eye

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• We are wrong to fear superiority of mind and soul; this superiority is very moral, for understanding everything makes a person tolerant and the capacity to feel deeply inspires great goodness.

  Bill Vaughan

  Understanding, Inspire, Soul

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• Friendships last when each friend thinks he has a slight superiority over the other.

  Honore de Balzac

  Friendship, Thinking, Negative

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• What sense of superiority it gives one to escape reading some book which every one else is reading.

  Alice James

  Book, Reading, Giving

  Alice James (1934). “Her Brothers Her Journal”

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