quotations about cunning
Those who have the most cunning affect all their lives to condemn cunning; that they may make use of it on some great occasion, and to some great end.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Cunning is a misplaced ambition of being perfect in others' deficiencies: it is the culture of low parts, and the proficiency of low minds.
NORMAN MACDONALD
Maxims and Moral Reflections
The surest way to be cheated is to fancy ourselves more cunning than others.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
A cunning man overreaches no one half so much as himself.
HENRY WARD BEECHER
Life Thoughts
Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.
JANE AUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice
And because these cunning men, are like haberdashers of small wares, it is not amiss to set forth their shop.
FRANCIS BACON
"Of Cunning", Essays
The common practice of cunning is a sign of small genius; and it almost always happens that those who use it to cover themselves in one place, lay themselves open in another.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The unrighteous man is apt to pride himself on his cunning; he says, "I am one who ought to life, and not a mere burden of the earth." But he should reflect that his ignorance makes his condition worse than if he knew. For the penalty of injustice is not death or stripes, but the fatal necessity of becoming more and more unjust. Two patterns of life are set before him; the one blessed and divine, the other godless and wretched; and he is growing more and more like the one and unlike the other. He does not see that if he continues in his cunning, the place of innocence will not receive him after death.
PLATO
"Theaetetus,", Dialogues
We should do by our cunning as we do by our courage, always have it ready to defend ourselves, never to offend others.
FULKE GREVILLE
Maxims