quotations about faults
It is more charitable, and often more in keeping with the truth, to term men's faults only differences.
LEWIS F. KORNS
Thoughts
The reason why we so often judge correctly concerning the faults of others, is because we are always in search of them.
NORMAN MACDONALD
Maxims and Moral Reflections
Man's faults lie like reptiles--like toads, like lizards, like serpents; and what if there is over them the evening sky, lit with glory, and all aglow? Are they less reptiles and toads because all is roseate around about them?
HENRY WARD BEECHER
Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit
The highest evidence that love exists is its readiness to overlook and pardon faults.
REUEN THOMAS
Thoughts for the Thoughtful
No one recognizes their faults or their virtues when these are stated by another, any more than they recognize their own voices on a tape recorder. The world transmits back to us only the asymmetric form of our vices, as a mirror reflects back the asymmetric form of our faces.
JEAN BAUDRILLARD
Cool Memories
One mend-fault is worth two find-faults, but one find-fault is better than two make-faults.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Poor Richard's Almanack, 1735
We must accept most great people with great faults.
LEWIS F. KORNS
Thoughts
No one likes to be pitied for his faults.
LUC DE CLAPIERS, MARQUIS DE VAUVENARGUES
Reflections and Maxims
If we had no faults ourselves, we should not take such pleasure in observing those of others.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
One of the greatest and also the commonest of faults is for men to believe that, because they never hear their shortcomings spoken of, or read about them in cold print, others can have no knowledge of them.
GEORG CHRISTOPH LICHTENBERG
The Reflections of Lichtenberg
What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities.
JOSEPH ADDISON
The Spectator, Dec. 15, The Spectator, Dec. 15, 1711
A sure way to hear of your faults is to boast of your virtues.
NORMAN MACDONALD
Maxims and Moral Reflections
Consider not one fault where there are many virtues.
EDWARD COUNSEL
Maxims
Our faults are like weeds--if we really want to get rid of them we can't just take off their tops, we have to rip them out by their very roots.
FRANZ METCALF
What Would Buddha Do?
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
CONFUCIUS
The Wisdom of Confucius
There are faults in others we are often indulgent to; I mean those which have a connection with our own.
FULKE GREVILLE
Maxims
The faults that are visible in ourselves should, at least, teach us tenderness with respect to those we imagine in others.
NORMAN MACDONALD
Maxims and Moral Reflections
Only great men have great faults.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Oftentimes excusing of a fault
Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
King John
Ain't no such thing as a little fault or a big fault. Satan get his foot in the door, he ain't going to rest till he's in the room.
JAMES BALDWIN
Go Tell It on the Mountain