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
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
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
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
Ten thousand of the greatest faults in our neighbors are of less consequence to us than one of the smallest in ourselves.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
We easily forget our faults when they are known only to ourselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Her new bark is worse than ten times her old bite.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
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
Every one is eagle-eyed to see another’s faults and deformity.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
You will find it less easy to uproot faults, than to choke them by gaining virtues.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
When you have faults, do not fear to abandon 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
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
Our own faults are those we are the first to detect, and the last to forgive, in others.
—Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–38) English Poet, Novelist
He has no fault except that he has no fault.
—Pliny the Younger (c.61–c.112 CE) Roman Senator, Writer
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
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
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
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 Historian, Writer, Editor
He who exhibits no faults is a fool or a hypocrite whom we should distrust.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
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
Not to alter one’s faults is to be faulty indeed.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
What is friendship, if not a chance to indulge in mutual self-pity?
—Christopher Hampton (b.1946) British Playwright, Screenwriter
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
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
He has not a single redeeming defect.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Don’t find fault. Find a remedy.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
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
Leave a Reply