Quotes About Authenticity

The honest and good man ought to be exactly like a man who smells strong, so that the bystander as soon as he comes near him must smell whether he choose or not.

Wilt thou, then, my soul, never be good and simple and one and naked, more manifest than the body which surrounds thee?

If you're honest and straightforward and mean well, it should show in your eyes. It should be unmistakable.

Take the shortest route, the one that nature planned—to speak and act in the healthiest way. Do that, and be free of pain and stress, free of all calculation and pretension.

How rotten and spurious is the man who says: "I have decided to be straightforward with you.

Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display.

It isn't ceasing to live that [I'm] afraid of but never beginning to live properly?

Perfection of character: to live your last day, every day, without frenzy, or sloth, or pretense

Now forget what they think of you. Be satisfied if you can live the rest of your life, however short, as your nature demands. Focus on that, and don't let anything distract you. You've wandered all over and finally realized that you never found what you were after: how to live. Not in syllogisms, not in money, or fame, or self-indulgence. Nowhere.

a ripe mature man, a perfect sound man; one that could not endure to be flattered; able to govern both himself and others.

A straightforward, honest person should be like someone who stinks: when you're in the same room with him, you know it. But false straightforwardness is like a knife in the back. False friendship is the worst. Avoid it at all costs. If you're honest and straightforward and mean well, it should show in your eyes. It should be unmistakable.

Seek what is conformable to thy nature, and strive towards this, even if it brings no reputation.

he may not be profound, he is always sincere.

for no veil clothes a star.

nor to showing myself off as a man who practises much discipline, or does benevolent acts in order to make a display

Not to display anger or other emotions. To be free of passion and yet full of love. To praise without bombast; to display expertise without pretension.

If your speaking skills need work, by all means work on them. But it's better to be honest and straightforward than mere witty and clever.

Straight, not straightened.

Speak what you really think, not what you think people want to hear.

You can't set down rules for others until you have first followed them yourself.

La perfección del carácter supone que cada día transcurra como el último, sin palpitos, sin cabezadas, sin actuaciones teatrales.

The perfection of moral character consists in this, in passing every day as the last, and in being neither violently excited nor torpid nor playing the hypocrite.

A straightforward, honest person should be like someone who stinks: when you're in the same room with him, you know it. But false straightforwardness is like a knife in the back.

So you know how things stand. Now forget what they think of you. Be satisfied if you can live the rest of your life, however short, as your nature demands. Focus on that, and don't let anything distract you. You've wandered all over and finally realized that you never found what you were after: how to live.