Jim Butcher Quotes

I tolerate my faults but not at all other people's.

They that censure, should practice. Or else let them have the first stone, and the last too.

Setting too good an Example is a Kind of slander seldom forgiven.

The human race is inquisitive about other people's lives, but negligent to correct their own.

I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.

We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their acts.

Nothing needs reforming more than someone else’s habit.

The church is always trying to get other people to reform; it might not be a bad idea to reform itself a little, by way of example.

Character is the result of two great forces: the initial force which the Creator gave it when He called the man into being; and the force of all the external influence and culture that mold and modify the development of a life.

No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character.

For those of us on this planet who have never done wrong and are always right and are just down right 100% perfect all the time, life can be hard.

Curiously enough, it is often the people who refuse to assume any responsibility who are apt to be the sharpest critics of those who do.

And truly it is a very natural and ordinary thing to desire to acquire, and always, when men do it who can, they will be praised or not blamed; but when they cannot, and wish to do it anyway, here lies the error and the blame.

The heart of every man lies open to the shafts of correction if the archer can take proper aim.

Conscience is a cudgel which all men pick up in order to thwack their neighbors instead of applying it to their own shoulders.

Men of great and shining qualities do not always succeed in life, but the fault lies more often in themselves than in others.

Every man carries two bags about him, one in front and one behind, and both are full of faults. The bag in front contains his neighbors' faults, the one behind his own. Hence it is that men do not see their own faults, but never fail to see those of others.

Let no man give advice to others that he has not first given himself.

In the spiritual domain, criticism is love turned sour... If criticism becomes a habit, it will destroy the moral energy of the life and paralyze the spiritual force... Whenever you are in a critical temper, it is impossible to enter into communion with God. Criticism makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person. It is impossible to develop the characteristics of a saint and maintain a critical attitude.

Before thou reprehend another, take heed thou art not culpable in what thou goest about to reprehend. He that cleanses a blot with blotted fingers makes a greater blur.

Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.

Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men?

I want to be a good human being. I'm doing my best, and I'm working at it.

People often tell me I could be a great man. I'd rather be a good man.