“Xenophanes said, "I confess myself the greatest coward in the world, for I dare not do an ill thing."”

—  Plutarch

Of Bashfulness
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Xenophanes said, "I confess myself the greatest coward in the world, for I dare not do an ill thing."" by Plutarch?
Plutarch photo
Plutarch 251
ancient Greek historian and philosopher 46–127

Related quotes

Bram Stoker photo

“I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul.”

Bram Stoker book Dracula

Source: Dracula

W.E.B. Du Bois photo

“There is but one coward on earth, and that is the coward that dare not know.”

W.E.B. Du Bois book Dusk of Dawn

The Study of the Negro Problems, paragraph 50, in The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. XI (January 1898) http://www.webdubois.org/dbStudyofnprob.html
Source: Dusk of Dawn

Willie Mays photo

“The greatest challenge I think is adjusting to not playing baseball. The reason for that is that I had to come out of baseball and come into the business world, not being a college graduate, not being educated to come into the business world the way I should have. And, instead of people doing things for me, I had to do things for myself. That was scary for me.”

Willie Mays (1931) Baseball player

Academy of Achievement Interview (1996)

““Show yourselves,” cried Stephon. “Only cowards hide in the dark.”
“Cowards do many things,” said the voice. “Cowards kill their Commanders and make it look like a bandit attack. Cowards plot in secret. Cowards breed insurrection. Cowards plan the abuse of women.””

Sheri S. Tepper book The Gate to Women's Country

Source: The Gate to Women's Country (1988), Chapter 34 (p. 302)

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi photo

“I will frankly confess that I was convinced that God had ordained me to do certain things for the service of my nation, things that perhaps could not be done by anyone else. In whatever I have done and whatever I do in the future, I consider myself as an agent of the will of God.”

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919–1980) Shah of Iran

Page 16
Publications, The White Revolution (1966)

Björk photo

“I dare you to take me on
I dare you to show me your palms
I'm so bored of cowards who say they want (love)
Then they can't handle love”

Björk (1965) Icelandic singer-songwriter

"5 Years", from Homogenic (1997)
Songs

Matt Dillon photo

“I like to try different things. A good strong character and a good story are the key things for me when I'm considering a script. But I don't want to do the same kinds of things over and over. I like to challenge myself and do projects that dare to push the limits.”

Matt Dillon (1964) American actor

Dennis King (January 12, 1990) "Matt Dillon - This Era's James Dean - 'Drugstore Cowboy' Star Takes Critics' Award, Speculation About Oscar Nomination in Stride", Tulsa World, p. C1.

Chuck Palahniuk photo

“I suppose it’s comfort, perhaps a sense of self-control, doing worse things to yourself than the world will ever dare inflict.”

Chuck Palahniuk book Tell-All

Source: Tell-All

Muhammad Ali photo

“I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.”

Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) African American boxer, philanthropist and activist

Related topics