1970's, Conversations with Samuel Beckett and Bram van Velde (1970 - 1972)
“Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing.”
Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher
The Analects, The Doctrine of the Mean
Context: Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing. On this account, the superior man regards the attainment of sincerity as the most excellent thing.
“Don't be serious, be sincere.”
Chetan Bhagat (1974) Indian author, born 1974
Source: Revolution 2020: Love, Corruption, Ambition
“To be immediately inconvenients to most people, it is enough to be true, correct and sincere.”
Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer
Original: Per essere immediatamente scomodi alla maggior parte delle persone, è sufficiente essere veri, corretti e sinceri.
Source: prevale.net
“Don't claim you're sincere, just be it.”
Eva Heller book Beim nächsten Mann wird alles anders
Beim nächsten Mann wird alles anders
“Sincerity is the most overrated virtue in the catalogue.”
Poul Anderson (1926–2001) American science fiction and fantasy writer
Star of the Sea (p. 637)
Time Patrol
“Sincerity is the way of Heaven. The attainment of sincerity is the way of men.”
Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher
The Analects, The Doctrine of the Mean
Context: Sincerity is the way of Heaven. The attainment of sincerity is the way of men. He who possesses sincerity is he who, without an effort, hits what is right, and apprehends, without the exercise of thought — he is the sage who naturally and easily embodies the right way. He who attains to sincerity is he who chooses what is good, and firmly holds it fast. To this attainment there are requisite the extensive study of what is good, accurate inquiry about it, careful reflection on it, the clear discrimination of it, and the earnest practice of it.
“Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it.”
Harry Truman (1884–1972) American politician, 33rd president of the United States (in office from 1945 to 1953)
Attributed without citation in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (1992) by Angela Partington, disputed in The Quote Verifier : Who Said What, Where, and When (2006) by Ralph Keyes, p. 224, as something Truman is not known to have said, nor was likely to have said.
Disputed
“I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in this province.”
Abigail Adams (1744–1818) 2nd First Lady of the United States (1797–1801)
Letter to John Adams (24 September 1774)
Context: I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in this province. It always appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me — to fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have.
“A grave and sincere apology to the people of Iraq.”
Martin Firrell (1963) British artist and activist
"The Question Mark Inside" (2008)
