“The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.”
Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher
“Distrust the man who smiles before he speaks.”
Méfie-toi de celui qui rit avant de parler!
Tartarin sur les Alpes (1885; repr. New York: H. Holt, 1917) p. 89; Katharine Prescott Wormeley (trans.) Tartarin of Tarascon. To Which is Added Tartarin on the Alps (Boston: Little, Brown, 1900) p. 241.
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Do you have more details about the quote "Distrust the man who smiles before he speaks." by Alphonse Daudet?
Alphonse Daudet15
French novelist 1840–1897Related quotes
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Context: "We begin well, sir," the fat man purred … "I distrust a man that says when. If he's got to be careful not to drink too much it's because he's not to be trusted when he does. … Well, sir, here's to plain speaking and clear understanding. … You're a close-mouthed man?"
Spade shook his head. "I like to talk."
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“He was a person who couldn't fake a smile but smiled often.”
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Source: Ideas have Consequences (1948), p. 59.