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
If the best man’s faults were written on his forehead, he would draw his hat over his eyes.
—Thomas Gray (1716–71) British Poet, Scholar
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
The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
No one is worse, for knowing the worst of themselves.
—Common Proverb
We easily forget our faults when they are known only to ourselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Men’s faults to themselves seldom appear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Faults that are rich are fair.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Wink at small faults, for you have great ones yourself.
—Scottish Proverb
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 Writer
We make a ladder of our vices, if we trample those same vices underfoot.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
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
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
I have not hated the man, but his faults.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
When looking for faults use a mirror, not a telescope
—Unknown
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
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
He will be immortal who liveth till he be stoned by one without fault.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Love to faults is always blind, always is to joy inclined. Lawless, winged, and unconfined, and breaks all chains from every mind.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by our good qualities.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
I can’t help detesting my relations. I suppose it comes from the fact that none of us can stand other people having the same faults as ourselves.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
There are some faults so nearly allied to excellence that we can scarce weed out the vice without eradicating the virtue.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
To acknowledge our faults when we are blamed, is modesty; to discover them to one’s friends, in ingenuousness, is confidence; but to proclaim them to the world, if one does not take care, is pride.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
To find fault, is easy; to do better may be difficult.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
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