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
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
The more defects a man may have, the older he is, the less lovable, the more resounding his success.
—Marquis de Sade (1740–1814) French Political leader, Revolutionary, Novelist, Poet, Critic
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
It is not so much the being exempt from faults, as having overcome them, that is an advantage to us; it being with the follies of the mind as with the weeds of a field, which if destroyed and consumed upon the place of their birth, enrich and improve it more than if none had ever sprung there.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
He has not a single redeeming defect.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I may have faults, but being wrong ain’t one of them.
—Jimmy Hoffa (1913–75) American Trade Union Leader
Men are almost always cruel on their neighbors’ faults, and make the overthrow of others the badge of their own ill-masked virtue.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Our faults irritate us most when we see them in others.
—Pennsylvania Dutch Proverb
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
The lowest people are generally the first to find fault with show or equipage; especially that of a person lately emerged from his obscurity. They never once consider that he is breaking the ice for themselves.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
Men’s faults to themselves seldom appear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Every one is eagle-eyed to see another’s faults and deformity.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Humankind’s chief fault is that they have so many small ones.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
There is no reward for finding fault.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
A spirit to find fault is an enemy to your peace and comfort, and also to the happiness of those around you. It is the key to your destruction.
—Unknown
You will find it less easy to uproot faults, than to choke them by gaining virtues.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
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
If we had no failings ourselves we should not take so much pleasure in finding out those of others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
If the best man’s faults were written on his forehead, he would draw his hat over his eyes.
—Thomas Gray (1716–71) English Poet, Book Collector
We make a ladder of our vices, if we trample those same vices underfoot.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Always acknowledge a fault quite frankly. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Our friends don’t see our faults, or conceal them, or soften them.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
No one sees the wallet on his own back, though every one carries two packs, one before, stuffed with the faults of his neighbors; the other behind, filled with his own.
—Common Proverb
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
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
To find fault, is easy; to do better may be difficult.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Trust no friend without faults, and love a woman, but no angel.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Everybody loves to find fault, it gives a feeling of superiority.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Just as you are pleased at finding faults, you are displeased at finding perfections.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Some faults are so closely allied to qualities that it is difficult to weed out the vice without eradicating the virtue.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, 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
Think of your own faults the first part of the night when you are awake, and of the faults of others the latter part of the night when you are asleep.
—Chinese Proverb
People may flatter themselves just as much by thinking that their faults are always present to other people’s minds, as if they believe that the world is always contemplating their individual charms and virtues.
—Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–65) English Novelist, Short-Story Writer
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
Don’t find fault. Find a remedy.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
When looking for faults use a mirror, not a telescope
—Unknown
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
We forget our faults easily when they are known to ourselves alone.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
While fools shun one set of faults they run into the opposite one.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Not to alter one’s faults is to be faulty indeed.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
Endeavor to be always patient of the faults and imperfections of others; for thou hast many faults and imperfections of thine own that require forbearance. If thou art not able to make thyself that which thou wishest, how canst thou expect to mold another in conformity to thy will?
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
A good garden may have some weeds.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Every man should have a fair-sized cemetery in which to bury the faults of his friends.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer