Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

Without humility, we keep all our defects; and they are only crusted over by pride, which conceals them from others, and often from ourselves.

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

I don't always like my own behavior. I haven't known anyone who is perfect all the time.

For our vanity is such that we hold our own characters immutable, and we are slow to acknowledge that they have changed, even for the better.

I think that I am better than the people who are trying to reform me.

I think I have a better sense of my weaknesses - being self-important, selfish and having a big ego probably triggers all the other stuff. I can see myself more clearly.

He who denies his own vanity usually possesses it in so brutal a form that he instinctively shuts his eyes to avoid the necessity of despising himself.

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

Such excessive preoccupation with his faults is not a truly spiritual activity but, on the contrary, a highly egoistic one.The recognition of his own faults should make a man humbler, when it is beneficial, not prouder, which the thought that he ought to have been above these faults makes him.

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.

If thou seest anything in thyself which may make thee proud, look a little further and thou shalt find enough to humble thee; if thou be wise, view the peacock's feathers with his feet, and weigh thy best parts with thy imperfections.

We are not greatly pleased that our friends should respect our good qualities if they venture to perceive our faults.

I don't see myself as the perfect person at all.

I'm willing to admit that I may not always be right, but I am never wrong.

My weaknesses... I wish I could come up with something. I'd probably have the same pause if you asked me what my strengths are. Maybe they're the same thing.

I'm not good at watching myself.

Of all the things I could know, my own faults and weaknesses are pretty much the most important.

I have a pretty clear picture of the whole weight of my life, and there are things that I've done that are good, and I'm proud of them. There are things that I'm really not proud of, and that they, you have to look at me with a perspective, and I try really hard to do that, to keep from thinking I'm cool and ever so smart.

To learn to know oneself, to judge oneself with truth and impartiality, must be the great objects of one's exertion; they are only attainable by constant and cool self-examination.

It is more profitable to be mindful of our own faults than of those of our age.

I certainly had an arrogant streak. And I certainly was defensive in certain cases. Maybe I'm still arrogant, but I try not to be.

Our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults.

It's impossible not to constantly adjust the way you look at yourself.

I have trouble admitting I'm wrong.

I am a man of many flaws and contradictions.