It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
People who have no weaknesses are terrible; there is no way of taking advantage of them.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Ambition, old as mankind, the immemorial weakness of the strong.
—Vita Sackville-West (1892–1962) English Gardener, Author, Poet
Some of our weaknesses are born in us, others are the result of education; it is a question which of the two gives us most trouble.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
If weakness may excuse, what murderer, what traitor, parricide, incestuous, sacrilegious, but may plead it? All wickedness is weakness; that plea, therefore, with God or man will gain thee no remission.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
A woman’s strength is the irresistible might of weakness.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The weak soul, within itself unblest, leans for all pleasure on another’s breast.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
The weak are more likely to make the strong weak than the strong are likely to make the weak strong.
—Marlene Dietrich (1901–92) German-American Film Actress, Cabaret Performer
A wise person should never divulge the loss of his wealth, distress in his mind, malpractices at his home or that he has been cheated or insulted.
—The Hitopadesha Indian Collection of Fables
It is a talent of the weak to persuade themselves that they suffer for something when they suffer from something; that they are showing the way when they are running away; that they see the light when they feel the heat; that they are chosen when they are shunned.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Better make a weak man your enemy than your friend.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Delusion and weakness produce not one mischief the less, because they are universal.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
To excel means to reach beyond the best you have ever given because doing so matters to you personally, for its own sake. It means to run your own race—as an individual, team, or organization. To excel is to know your greatest strengths and passions, and to emphasize them while honestly admitting and managing your weaknesses.
—Robert Cooper (b.1947) British Diplomat
Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points.
—Knute Rockne (1888–1931) American College Football Coach
She lacks the indefinable charm of weakness.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The weak may be joked out of anything but their weakness.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
Union of the weakest develops strength not wisdom. Can all men, together, avenge one of the leaves that have fallen in autumn?. But the wise man avenges by building his city in snow.
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) American Poet
It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power.
—John Adams (1735–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
The weakest and most timorous are the most revengeful and implacable.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Few men have done more harm than those who have been thought to be able to do the least; and there cannot be a greater error than to believe a man whom we see qualified with too mean parts to do good, to be, therefore, incapable of doing hurt. There is a supply of malice, of pride, of industry, and even of folly, in the weakest, when he sets his heart upon it, that makes a strange progress in wickedness.
—Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609–74) English Statesman, Historian
Only strength can cooperate. Weakness can only beg.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
And he has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Man’s biological weakness is the condition of human culture.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Our worries always come from our weaknesses.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
The greatest weakness of all is the great fear of appearing weak.
—Jacques-Benigne Bossuet xxx
Growth begins when we start to accept our own weakness.
—Jean Vanier (1928–2019) French-Canadian Philosopher, Theologian, Humanitarian