C. S. Lewis Quotes

I am only trying to call attention to a fact; the fact that this year, of this month, or, more likely, this very day, we have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behaviour we expect from other people.

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.

I can pardon everybody's mistakes except my own.

To all the rest of his Absurdities, (for vice is always unreasonable,) he adds one more, who expects that Vertue from another which he won't practise himself.

When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.

This year, or this month, or, more likely, this very day, we have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behavior we expect from other people.

May we be as severe with ourselves over our own subtle sins as we are with the vile sins we condemn in others

Be your own worst critic. When things go wrong it's tempting to shift the blame. Don't. Accept responsibility. People will appreciate it, and you will find out what you're capable of.

In our own case we accept excuses too easily; in other people's, we do not accept them easily enough.

Why will no man confess his faults? Because he continues to indulge in them; a man cannot tell his dream till he wakes.

People who are most interested in telling the truth about others are generally the least interested in having the truth told about themselves.

There are a lot of black-hearted, mean-spirited bastards in the world. It's important that we hold them to acount. But always remember that you might be the most black-hearted and mean-spirited in the lot, so hold yourself the most accountable of all.

I try to be a good person. I know what my downfalls are, so that's a good thing.

Hypocrites in the Church? Yes, and in the lodge and at the home. Don't hunt through the Church for a hypocrite. Go home and look in the mirror. Hypocrites? Yes. See that you make the number one less.

You know, I'd like to sit here and blame everybody else for my trouble. I just can't do that. I can't find it in myself to do it.

Looking back, I am ashamed that I have not always upheld the values that I profess and believe in.

It is better to destroy one's own errors than those of others.

Find fault with thyself rather than with others.

Let him who means to tax another, examine himself, and then he will be silent.

Whenever you do a thing, tho' it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you and act accordingly.

What, pray, does it profit a man to teach others, and to be prating always about virtue, in high-sounding words, if he fails to give heed to his own instructions?

Stop blaming the world—look inside!

I'm much more interested in looking at our own failings than going to some faraway place and looking at their failings, thus making us feel good about ourselves.

It's easy for us to look at another country or another political party and say, 'Enough! Do better!'. It is a tougher conversation when the problem is in our own tent.