To reprove small faults with undue vehemence, is as absurd as if a man should take a great hammer to kill a fly on his friend’s forehead.
—Anonymous
The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Men’s faults to themselves seldom appear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We confess small faults, in order to insinuate that we have no great ones.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
A man’s personal defects will commonly have with the rest of the world precisely that importance which they have to himself. If he makes light of them, so will other men.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Everybody loves to find fault, it gives a feeling of superiority.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Wink at small faults, for you have great ones yourself.
—Scottish Proverb
While fools shun one set of faults they run into the opposite one.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
He who exhibits no faults is a fool or a hypocrite whom we should distrust.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Don’t find fault. Find a remedy.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
A fault that humbles a man is of greater value than a virtue that puffs him up.
—Unknown
It is easy to find fault, if one has that disposition. There was once a man who, not being able to find any other fault with his coal, complained there were too many prehistoric toads in it.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I have not hated the man, but his faults.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
Of all acts of man repentance is the most divine. The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Confession of errors is like a broom which sweeps away the dirt and leaves the surface brighter and clearer. I feel stronger for confession.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
It is always well to accept your own shortcomings with candor but to regard those of your friends with polite incredulity.
—Russell Lynes (1910–91) American Art Historian, Photographer, Author, Editor
When looking for faults use a mirror, not a telescope
—Unknown
Our faults irritate us most when we see them in others.
—Pennsylvania Dutch Proverb
A benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
He will be immortal who liveth till he be stoned by one without fault.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
We easily forget our faults when they are known only to ourselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
I may have faults, but being wrong ain’t one of them.
—Jimmy Hoffa (1913–75) American Trade Union Leader
The faults of a superior man are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
It is well there is no one without fault; for he would not have a friend in the world. He would seem to belong to a different species.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Conceal a flaw, and the world will imagine the worst.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
Trust no friend without faults, and love a woman, but no angel.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
The fault-finder—it is his nature’s plague to spy into abuses; and oft his jealousy shapes faults that are not.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Our friends don’t see our faults, or conceal them, or soften them.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
They say men are molded out of faults, and for the most, become much more the better; for being a little bad.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright