There are two kinds of weakness, that which breaks and that which bends.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
When mental energy is allowed to follow the line of least resistance and to fall into easy channels, it is called weakness.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
The strength of man sinks in the hour of trial: but there doth live a power that to the battle girdeth the weak.
—Joanna Baillie (1762–1851) Scottish Playwright, Poet
The weak soul, within itself unblest, leans for all pleasure on another’s breast.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
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 K. Cooper (b.1957) American Author, Psychologist
Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points.
—Knute Rockne (1888–1931) American College Football Coach
Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. The resentment of the weak does not spring from any injustice done to them but from the sense of their inadequacy and impotence. They hate not wickedness but weakness. When it is in their power to do so, the weak destroy weakness wherever they see it.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step toward repairing our loss.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
The more weakness, the more falsehood; strength goes straight; every cannon-ball that has in it hollows and holes goes crooked. Weaklings must lie.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
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
Credulity is the man’s weakness, but the child’s strength.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
Only strength can cooperate. Weakness can only beg.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
Confession is always weakness. The grave soul keeps its own secrets, and takes its own punishment in silence.
—Dorothy Dix (1861–1951) American Journalist, Columnist
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
Weaklings must lie.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
Weakness has its hidden resources, as well as strength. There is a degree of folly and meanness, which we cannot calculate upon, and by which we are as much liable to be foiled as by the greatest ability or courage.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
The concessions of the weak are the concessions of fear.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
She lacks the indefinable charm of weakness.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
Growth begins when we start to accept our own weakness.
—Jean Vanier (1928–2019) French-Canadian Philosopher, Theologian, Humanitarian
The yielding of the weak is the concession to fear.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Our strength grows out of our weaknesses.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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 weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power.
—John Adams (1735–1826) 2nd US President, Founding Father, Statesman
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
Wickedness is weakness.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Weaknesses, so called, are nothing more nor less than vice in disguise!
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Our worries always come from our weaknesses.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
The weak may be joked out of anything but their weakness.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–95) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
Leave a Reply