"Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade, as much as indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. But a modest assertion of one’s own opinion, and a complaisant acquiescence in other people’s, preserve dignity."

Philip Stanhope Politics See all quotes by Philip Stanhope →

React to this quote

More by Philip Stanhope

“I assisted at the birth of that most significant word "flirtation," which dropped from the most beautiful mouth in the world.”

“I really know nothing more criminal, more mean, and more ridiculous than lying. It is the production either of malice, cowardice, or vanity; and generally misses of its aim in every one of these views; for lies are always detected, sooner or later.”

“Sacrifice to the Graces.”

“Take the tone of the company you are in.”

“There is time enough for everything, in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once; but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.”

“People will no more advance their civility to a bear, than their money to a bankrupt.”

Resonant Thoughts

"I'm fucking sick of people who always try to blame movies, bands, songs, or talk shows for whatever the fuck hits them today – teen suicides, drug overdoses or everything else. If someone is stupid en…"

— Marilyn Manson

Music1969

#Human Nature

"Nobody doubts that the Russians committed aggression, that Saddam Hussein committed aggression. We attribute to them rational goals, maybe they wanted to control the energy of the Middle East or somet…"

— Noam Chomsky

Philosophy1928

#knowledge

"And that, of course, is the tragic flaw in the narcotics laws — that possession of marijuana is a felony. Regardless of whether it is as harmless as some believe, or as evil and vicious as others beli…"

— John D. MacDonald

Literature1916–1986

#Human Nature

"Japan has a lot of engineers who work at desks. When it comes to implementation, though, they lose confidence and haven't got the courage of their convictions when other people criticize them. Enginee…"

— Kiichiro Toyoda

Technology1894–1952

#work