Francois Fenelon Quotes

Nothing shows our weakness more than to be so sharp-sighted at spying other men's faults, and so purblind about our own.

We almost always see only what's wrong with other people and not what's wrong with us.

What you dislike in another take care to correct in yourself.

Occupy yourself in beholding and bewailing your own imperfections rather than contemplating the imperfections of others.

There's something delicious about finding fault with something. And that can be including finding fault with one's self, you know?

The same vices which are huge and insupportable in others we do not feel in ourselves.

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.

We tend to see our character flaws as simple defects, and the simple defects of others as character flaws.

One ought to look a good deal at oneself before thinking of condemning others.

I have realised it is easy to point fingers at others, but the moment you start questioning yourself, you become a better person.

Nobody likes to be judged, including me, but I am the first to say that I am far from perfect.

Self-criticism is an art not many are qualified to practice.

Only those faults which we encounter in ourselves are insufferable to us in others.

Every man has a bag hanging before him, in which he puts his neighbour's faults, and another behind him in which he stows his own.

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.

If you think everything you've done is great, you're probably dumb.

Self-love is a good thing but self-awareness is more important. You need to once in a while go ‘Uh, I’m kind of an asshole.’

It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us. This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good heart whatever they might have to say.

I will chide no breather in the world but myself, against whom I know most faults.

A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.

When you descant on the faults of others, consider whether you be not guilty of the same. To gain knowledge of ourselves, the best way is to convert the imperfections of others into a mirror for discovering our own.

If we did not have pride, we would not complain of it in others.

Were we faultless, we would not derive such satisfaction from remarking the faults of others.

Were we to think more of our own mistakes and offences, we should be less apt to judge other people.