Vanity as an impulse has without doubt been of far more benefit to civilization than modesty has ever been.

Vanity as an impulse has without doubt been of far more benefit to civilization than modesty has ever been.

Vanity keeps persons in favor with themselves who are out of favor with all others

Vanity keeps persons in favor with themselves who are out of favor with all others

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is
as nothing before thee: verily every read more

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is
as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is
altogether vanity. Selah.

To say that a man is vain means merely that he is pleased with the effect he produces on other read more

To say that a man is vain means merely that he is pleased with the effect he produces on other people. A conceited man is satisfied with the effect he produces on himself.

To act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings. Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some read more

To act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings. Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive.

Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain:
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he read more

Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain:
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain.

Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being read more

Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.

Meek Nature's evening comment on the shows
That for oblivion that their daily birth
From all the read more

Meek Nature's evening comment on the shows
That for oblivion that their daily birth
From all the fuming vanities of earth.

It must require an inordinate share of vanity and presumption, too, after enjoying so much that is good and beautiful read more

It must require an inordinate share of vanity and presumption, too, after enjoying so much that is good and beautiful on earth, to ask the Lord for immortality in addition to all.