Sunday, April 28, 2024 Text is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 licence.

William Somerset Maugham

« All quotes from this author
 

I do not believe they are right who say that the defects of famous men should be ignored. I think it is better that we should know them. Then, though we are conscious of having faults as glaring as theirs, we can believe that that is no hindrance to our achieving also something of their virtues.
--
p. 71

 
William Somerset Maugham

» William Somerset Maugham - all quotes »



Tags: William Somerset Maugham Quotes, Authors starting by M


Similar quotes

 

We cannot avoid the defects of men without fleeting, thereby, their virtues. So we ruin ourselves by wisdom.

 
Emil Cioran
 

I am not going to talk about religious beliefs, but about matters so obvious that it has gone out of style to mention them.
I believe in my neighbors.
I know their faults and I know that their virtues far outweigh their faults. Take Father Michael down our road a piece — I'm not of his creed, but I know the goodness and charity and lovingkindness that shine in his daily actions. I believe in Father Mike; if I'm in trouble, I'll go to him. My next-door neighbor is a veterinary doctor. Doc will get out of bed after a hard day to help a stray cat. No fee —  no prospect of a fee. I believe in Doc.

 
Robert A. Heinlein
 

Be to her virtues very kind;
Be to her faults a little blind.

 
Matthew Prior
 

The cardinal method with faults is to overgrow them and choke them out with virtues.

 
John Bascom
 

No government is perfect. One of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected.

 
Harry S. Truman
© 2009–2013Quotes Privacy Policy | Contact