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I am sensible how much nobler it is to place the reward of virtue in the silent approbation of one's own breast than in the applause of the world. Glory ought to be the consequence, not the motive of our actions.

— Pliny the Younger

Meminimus quanto maiore animo honestatis fructus in conscientia quam in fama reponatur. Sequi enim gloria, non appeti debet.

Original text (Latin)

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More quotes by Pliny the Younger

An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit.

Never do a thing concerning the rectitude of which you are in doubt.

Oblige people never so often, and, if you deny them on a single point, they remember nothing but that refusal.

A certain large collective wisdom resides in a crowd, as such; and men whose individual judgement is defective are excellent judges when grouped together.

There is certainly no truth in the popular belief, that a man's will is the mirror of his character.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Pliny the Younger (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.