Who said “Modesty; the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.”?

Disputed

It's credited to Oliver Herford, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for Oliver Herford.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“Modesty; the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.”
DisputedNo reliable early source found for Oliver Herford. · evidenceModesty

Cite this quote

APA

“Modesty; the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.” [Quotation attributed to Oliver Herford]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22258-modesty-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm/

MLA

“Modesty; the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.” Attributed to Oliver Herford. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22258-modesty-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“Modesty; the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.” Attributed to Oliver Herford. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/22258-modesty-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm/.