Innocence in genius, and candor in power, are both noble qualities.
—Anne Louise Germaine de Stael (1766–1817) French Woman of Letters
Every harlot was a virgin once.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
To vice, innocence must always seem only a superior kind of chicanery.
—Ouida (Maria Louise Rame) (1839–1908) English Novelist
What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We can catch buses and count our change and cross the roads and talk real sentences. But our innocence goes awfully deep, and our discreditable secret is that we don’t know anything at all, and our horrid inner secret is that we don’t care that we don’t.
—Dylan Thomas (1914–53) Welsh Poet, Author
The innocent is the person who explains nothing.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He is armed without who is innocent within, be this thy screen, and this thy wall of brass.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Justice while she winks at crimes, Stumbles on innocence sometimes.
—Samuel Butler
The innocent seldom find an uneasy pillow.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
O, innocence, the sacred amulet against all the poisons of infirmity, and all misfortunes, injury, and death.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
They that know no evil will suspect none.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Through our own recovered innocence we discern the innocence of our neighbors.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Innocence is but a poor substitute for experience.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Innocence and ignorance are sisters. But there are noble and vulgar sisters. Vulgar innocence and ignorance are mortal, they have pretty faces, but wholly without expression, and of a transient beauty; the noble sisters are immortal, their lofty forms are unchangeable, and their countenances are still radiant with the light of paradise. They dwell in heaven, and visit only the noblest and most severely tried of mankind.
—Novalis (1772–1801) German Romantic Poet, Novelist
Now my innocence begins to weigh me down.
—Jean Racine (1639–1699) French Dramatist
We have not the innocence of Eden; but by God’s help and Christ’s example we may have the victory of Gethsemane.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Nothing looks so like innocence as an indiscretion.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Innocence alone dares commit certain acts of audacity. Virtue, when tutored, is as calculating as vice.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Innocence and mystery never dwell long together.
—Suzanne Curchod (1739–94) French-Swiss Salonist, Writer
There is no aphrodisiac like innocence.
—Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) French Sociologist, Philosopher
The greenhorn is the ultimate victor in everything; it is he that gets the most out of life.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
To be innocent is to be not guilty; but to be virtuous is to overcome our evil inclinations.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
The essential self is innocent, and when it tastes its own innocence knows that it lives for ever.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
It’s innocence when it charms us, ignorance when it doesn’t.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
If you would live innocently, seek solitude.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
Innocence is ignorance.
—Delphine de Girardin (1804–55) French Novelist, Author
Unstained thoughts do seldom dream on evil.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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