Modesty Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old modesty quotes, modesty sayings, and modesty proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

A modest little person, with much to be modest about. Winston S. Churchill
To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness. Benjamin Franklin
Modesty is the color of virtue. Diogenes
Let us be absolutely clear about one thing: we must not confuse humility with false modesty or servility. Paulo Coelho
It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. Harry Truman
Modesty, if you consider it, is the most unforgivable sort of falsehood: it's a lie that does damage to no one but yourself. Meredith Duran
It's not much of a tail, but I'm sort of attached to it. A.A. Milne
The man who is ostentatious of his modesty is twin to the statue that wears a fig-leaf. Mark Twain
False modesty can be worse than arrogance. David Mitchell
Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of her honor. Noah Webster
The thunder of false modesty was deafening. Sebastian Faulks
Modesty is the conscience of the body. Honoré de Balzac
No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune. Mary Wortley Montagu
We wound our modesty and make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish them. William Shakespeare
The delicate balance between modesty and conceit is popularity. Max Beerbohm
Modesty is invisibility. Never forget it. To be seen to be seen is to be penetrated. What you must be girls, is impenetrable. Margaret Atwood
You do not become smarter by blowing your own horn. You become smarter by being humble. Dr T.P.Chia
Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a real confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others. William Hazlitt
A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of. Joseph Addison
When you know who you are, you won't have false modesty. Sunday Adelaja
I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty. But I am too busy thinking about myself. Edith Sitwell
Modesty should be typical of the success of a champion. Major Taylor
In life humility is not a handicap, arrogance is not a strength. Dr T.P.Chia
Modesty is a quality in a lover more praised by the women than liked. Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Having a low opinion of yourself is not modesty. It's self-destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not egotism. It's a necessary precondition to happiness and success. Bobbe Sommer
Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue. John Kenneth Galbraith
Modesty is the delicate form of hypocrisy. Remy de Gourmont
Usually the modest person passes for someone reserved, the silent for a sullen person. Horace
Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue. Joseph Addison
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good. Confucius