Example is the best precept.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Practice what you preach.
—Common Proverb
My advice is to consult the lives of other men, as one would a looking-glass, and from thence fetch examples for imitation.
—Terence Ancient Roman Playwright
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
The first great gift we can bestow on others is a good example.
—Thomas Morell
Education commences at the mother’s knee, and every word spoken in the hearing of little children tends toward the formation of character. — Let parents always bear this in mind.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Universalist Clergyman, Writer
Folks don’t like to have somebody around knowing more than they do. It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talking right, they’ve got to want to learn themselves, and when they don’t want to learn there’s nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.
—Harper Lee (1926–2006) American Novelist
Things to remember: 1) The worth of character; 2) The improvement of talent; 3) The influence of example; 4) The joy of origination; 5) The dignity of simplicity; 6) The success of perseverance.
—Marshall Field (1834–1906) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Philanthropist
Example has more followers than reason.—We unconsciously imitate what pleases us, and approximate to the characters we most admire.—A generous habit of thought and action carries with it an incalculable influence.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
Nothing is so infectious as example.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
Not the cry, but the flight of the wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow.
—Chinese Proverb
There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously, when we walk uprightly.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Christian Mystic
The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working people, of all nations, and tongues, and kindreds. Nor should this lead us to a war upon property, or the owners of property. Property is the fruit of labor; property is desirable; is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich and, hence, is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus, by example, assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Much more gracious and profitable is doctrine by ensample, than by rule.
—Edmund Spenser (1552–99) English Poet
Children have more need of models than of critics.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Essayist
There is no part of history which seems capable of either more instruction or entertainment, than that which offers to us the lives of great and virtuous men who have made an eminent figure on the public stage of the world. In these we see what the annals of a whole age can afford that is worthy of notice; and in the wide field of universal history gather all its flowers, and possess ourselves of all that is good in it.
—Conyers Middleton (1683–1750) English Clergyman, Theologian
Well done is better than well said.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.
—Robert Fulghum (b.1937) American Unitarian Universalist Author, Essayist, Clergyman
So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.
—Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) Prussian German Philosopher, Logician
Human models are more vivid and more persuasive than explicit moral commands.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney, Writer