“Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man.”
Sophocles
HumanityWonder
Men Quotes
80 FAMOUS QUOTES · MEN
Men Quotes
Read 80 of the best quotes about men and manhood from Sophocles, Confucius, the Bhagavad Gita, Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Thirukkural, plus International Men's Day wishes.
“Man is the measure of all things.”
Protagoras
PhilosophyHumanity
“Man was born for two things: thinking and acting.”
Cicero
PurposeAction
“Man is a reasoning animal.”
Seneca
ReasonPhilosophy
“Man is a wolf to man.”
Plautus
Human NatureWarning
“That man is altogether best who considers all things himself and marks what will be better afterwards and at the end.”
Hesiod
WisdomForesight
“Behold, Plato's man!”
Diogenes (holding up a plucked chicken)
PhilosophyFunny
“You may fashion yourself in whatever shape you prefer.”
Pico della Mirandola
Self CreationPotential
“Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea.”
Samuel Johnson
CourageAdventure
“Man is a creature that can get used to anything, and I think that is the best definition of him.”
Fyodor Dostoevsky
ResilienceHuman Nature
“Men, men, these are wanted: everything else will be ready, but strong, vigorous, believing young men, sincere to the backbone, are wanted.”
Swami Vivekananda
YouthCharacter
“There is no greatness like saying, 'I will not slacken in labouring for my family.'”
Thiruvalluvar
FamilyHard Work
“Effort and wisdom, the two together, make a man's household great.”
Thiruvalluvar
EffortFamily
“A man's true manliness lies in being the strength and support of his family.”
Thiruvalluvar
ManlinessFamily
“As in the battlefield the burden falls on the brave, so in a family the burden falls on the capable.”
Thiruvalluvar
ResponsibilityFamily
“The rank is but the guinea's stamp, the man's the gowd for a' that.”
Robert Burns
WorthEquality
“The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what is profitable.”
Confucius
IntegrityValues
“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”
St. Francis de Sales
StrengthGentleness
“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”
Albert Einstein
ValuesSuccess
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
CourageCharacter
“A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”
Muhammad Ali
GrowthWisdom
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
Muhammad Ali
ServicePurpose
“Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is.”
The Bhagavad Gita
BeliefCharacter
“It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain.”
John Henry Newman
GentlemenKindness
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”
James Allen
ThoughtsCharacter
Related Topics
About Men Quotes
What makes a good man? Across centuries and cultures, the answer keeps coming back to the same things: character, kindness, hard work and the courage to do what's right. Today, being a man also means being honest about feelings, sharing the load at home and asking for help when it's needed.
This collection brings together 80 of the best quotes about men. It starts with classic words from Sophocles, Cicero, Dostoevsky, Swami Vivekananda and the Thirukkural, continues with quotes from Confucius, the Bhagavad Gita, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali, and ends with original WebFunFacts quotes for International Men's Day (19 November), men's mental health, brothers, sons, work and friendship. For more, explore our [Dad Quotes](/topics/dad-quotes) and [Father's Day Quotes](/topics/fathers-day-quotes).
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Men quotes.
When is International Men's Day?
International Men's Day is celebrated every year on 19 November. It focuses on men's health, positive role models and gender equality.
What is a famous quote about being a good man?
Albert Einstein said, "Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value." Martin Luther King Jr. said the ultimate measure of a man is where he stands "at times of challenge and controversy."
What does the Thirukkural say about men?
Thiruvalluvar wrote that a man's true manliness lies in being "the strength and support of his family," and that there is no greatness like refusing to slacken in labouring for one's family.
What is a good quote about strength and gentleness?
St. Francis de Sales wrote, "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."
What is a good quote about men's mental health?
Try "Strong men talk about their feelings. Silence is not strength; it's just silence," or "Check on your strong friends. They might be carrying more than they show."
What is a funny quote about men?
Try "Men don't ask for directions. They take scenic routes," or "Men have two moods: hungry and 'Is there anything to eat?'"