Apt Quotes

People do not always understand the motives of sublime conduct, and when they are astonished they are very apt to think they ought to be alarmed. The truth is none are fit judges of greatness but those who are capable of it.

People are too apt to treat God as if he were a minor royalty.

The class distinctions proper to a democratic society are not those of rank or money, still less, as is apt to happen when these are abandoned, of race, but of age.

Till people find themselves greatly abused and oppressed by their governors, they are not apt to complain; and whenever they do, in fact, find themselves thus abused and oppressed, they must be stupid not to complain.

In long experience I find that a man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts.

The man of science, like the man of letters, is too apt to view mankind only in the abstract, selecting in his consideration only a single side of our complex and many-sided being.

I want people to believe me when I play a part and they are less apt to if they know a lot about me and have associations about me.

As for charity, it is a matter in which the immediate effect on the persons directly concerned, and the ultimate consequence to the general good, are apt to be at complete war with one another.

Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.

The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon. You can always do it better, find the exact word, the apt phrase, the leaping simile.

It is certain, indeed, that the sacred writers were apt to make great allowances for people with empty stomachs, and though I am well aware that the present profane ones think this very reprehensible, I venture to agree with the sacred writers.

Standardization of our educational systems is apt to stamp out individualism and defeat the very ends of education by leveling the product down rather than up.

Those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home.

The most insignificant people are the most apt to sneer at others. They are safe from reprisals. And have no hope of rising in their own self esteem but by lowering their neighbors.

It is odd how learned persons fail to see that new terms and definitions are apt to mean new doubts and litigation.

We are apt to forget that children watch examples better than they listen to preaching.

To illustrate what I mean, an apt dancer may be in thorough unison with the others in that particular group, and at the same time reveal a difference in dancing temperament, rhythm or technique; she may phrase, accentuate or actually interpret differently.

We are apt to love praise, but not deserve it. But if we would deserve it, we must love virtue more than that.

I have found that words that are loaded with pathos and create a seductive euphoria are apt to promote nonsense.

People of little understanding are most apt to be angry when their sense is called into question.

Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.

I don't dream songs. I'm more apt to write dreams down and then to be able to interpret them into a song. I also tend to get up and write prose in the morning from which will come songs.

Hobbies are apt to run away with us, you know; it doesn't do to be run away with. We must keep the reins.

In America journalism is apt to be regarded as an extension of history: in Britain, as an extension of conversation.

If a person is treated like a patient, they are apt to act like one.

Conscientious people are apt to see their duty in that which is the most painful course.

A man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts.

When you hurry you're more apt to make mistakes. But you have to be quick. If you're not quick you can't get things done.

In my opinion, no single design is apt to be optimal for everyone.

Mankind are apt to be strongly prejudiced in favor of whatever is countenanced by antiquity, enforced by authority, and recommended by custom.