--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I pass, speak freely of my…" description: "\"When I pass, speak freely of my shortcomings and my flaws. Learn from them, for I'll have no ego to injure.\" — Aaron McGruder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/aaron-mcgruder-9271_ego_when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomi_176509.png" --- # When I pass, speak freely of my shortcomings and my flaws… ![“When I pass, speak freely of my shortcomings and my flaws. Learn from them, for I'll have no ego to injure.” quote by Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/aaron-mcgruder-9271_ego_when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomi_176509.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/aaron-mcgruder-9271_ego_when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomi_176509.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/aaron-mcgruder-9271_ego_when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomi_176509.png) > “When I pass, speak freely of my shortcomings and my flaws. Learn from them, for I'll have no ego to injure.” [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Admitting personal faults openly invites learning and prevents ego from blocking growth. **In simple terms:** Own your flaws to learn and stay humble. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and self‑critique. Themes humility self‑awareness growth Mood reflective introspective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - leadership coaching - conflict resolution Key Concepts ego vulnerability learning Questions to Reflect On - How can you share weaknesses without undermining credibility? - What steps help keep humility constructive? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on flaws can damage confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Ego Injure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego-injure-1898516/) [Flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws/) [Flaws Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws-learn-321910/) [Freely Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freely-shortcomings-1898515/) [Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass/) [Pass Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pass-speak-1898517/) [Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) ## Related quotes > [“When you learn to embrace your flaws is how you learn to love yourself, perfectly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyki-edwinna/when-you-learn-to-embrace-your-flaws-is-how-you-learn-to-love/) [Nyki Edwinna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyki-edwinna/) > [What I am is how I came out. No one's perfect and you just have to accept your flaws and learn to love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-brook/what-i-am-is-how-i-came-out-no-one-s-perfect-and-you-just-have-to/) [Kelly Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-brook/) > [Recognize and embrace your flaws so you can learn from them. Sometimes it takes a little polishing to truly shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/recognize-and-embrace-your-flaws-so-you-can-learn-from-them-sometimes/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“For a candidate, a leader, or anyone, really, the question is not “Are you flawed?” It’s “What do you do about your flaws?” Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/for-a-candidate-a-leader-or-anyone-really-the-question-is-not-are-you/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [but very little achievement is required in order to pity another man's shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-very-little-achievement-is-required-in-order-to-pity-another-man/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I think that the FIDE leaders have to reconsider the current drawing rules - their advantages aren't very clear, but their shortcomings are obvious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/i-think-that-the-fide-leaders-have-to-reconsider-the-current-drawing/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [You can never make someone punctual who is not, or quick who is slow, or lively who wants to plod on carefully. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-of-wied/you-can-never-make-someone-punctual-who-is-not-or-quick-who-is-slow/) [Elisabeth of Wied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-of-wied/) > [The medical profession (is) a conspiracy to hide its own shortcomings. No doubt the same may be said of all professions. They are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-medical-profession-is-a-conspiracy-to-hide-its-own-shortcomings/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Heredity is a splendid phenomenon that relieves us of responsibility for our shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/heredity-is-a-splendid-phenomenon-that-relieves-us-of-responsibility/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [“The flip side of this reality is that our big brains, advanced as they are, come with an array of complex shortcomings and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-disalvo/the-flip-side-of-this-reality-is-that-our-big-brains-advanced-as-they/) [David DiSalvo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-disalvo/) > [I do think it is harder to acknowledge our strengths, or to forgive ourselves and each other for our shortcomings, when there has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-do-think-it-is-harder-to-acknowledge-our-strengths-or-to-forgive/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [God loves us despite our shortcomings and sins, and his love gives meaning to our lives and to the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-loves-us-despite-our-shortcomings-and-sins-and-his-love-gives/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The second commandment that Jesus referred to was not to love others instead of ourselves, but to love them as ourselves. Before we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-warner/the-second-commandment-that-jesus-referred-to-was-not-to-love-others/) [Jim Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-warner/) > [I like men. They are hugely entertaining, but they have a lot of shortcomings and you just have to bear those in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-like-men-they-are-hugely-entertaining-but-they-have-a-lot-of/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [I think there are many faces to everyone. I also have my bad sides. Also I think everyone is trying to improve their shortcomings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhou-xun/i-think-there-are-many-faces-to-everyone-i-also-have-my-bad-sides/) [Zhou Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhou-xun/) ## More by Aaron McGruder > [I cannot be made into the commentator for the unspoken black masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-cannot-be-made-into-the-commentator-for-the-unspoken-black-masses/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I do the interviews and then I read about myself. I understand it and I get what it is. But there's so much stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-do-the-interviews-and-then-i-read-about-myself-i-understand-it-and/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [When the news wants to tell you something is important, they put dramatic theme music behind it. They scare you into watching the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/when-the-news-wants-to-tell-you-something-is-important-they-put/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [It's not the norm when creators have any protections with regards to creative control. And so it took some time, I think, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/it-s-not-the-norm-when-creators-have-any-protections-with-regards-to/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I don't want the news to be patriotic. I don't want to see flags on the lapels of the anchors. I don't want any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-don-t-want-the-news-to-be-patriotic-i-don-t-want-to-see-flags-on/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [Don't get me wrong, it definitely ain't the Democratic Party either. They're so bad, I mean I'm actually starting to believe that John Kerry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/don-t-get-me-wrong-it-definitely-ain-t-the-democratic-party-either/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [If your intentions are already bad, and then you still make giant mistakes, it seems like things just get worse. I get little joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/if-your-intentions-are-already-bad-and-then-you-still-make-giant/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I think there's a lot of good and bad to L.A. One of the things you have to consider is that you can, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-good-and-bad-to-l-a-one-of-the-things-you/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [Once I heard about the electronic voting machines, and how they weren't gonna be audited, and no one would be able to go in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/once-i-heard-about-the-electronic-voting-machines-and-how-they-weren/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [That's not saying there's not a bunch of good Democrats. I'm sure there's a lot of people who still haven't figured that out yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/that-s-not-saying-there-s-not-a-bunch-of-good-democrats-i-m-sure/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [You know, Democratic and Republican administrations alike have supported individuals and regimes that have slaughtered millions across the globe. And they need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/you-know-democratic-and-republican-administrations-alike-have/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [You know, every time a summer movie comes out, people think they're gonna get rich off of the merchandise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/you-know-every-time-a-summer-movie-comes-out-people-think-they-re/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I just feel like the country is guilty. I think we should be deeply ashamed for what we've done in Iraq, and we've gotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-just-feel-like-the-country-is-guilty-i-think-we-should-be-deeply/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [Obviously, there's a million things we're allowed to say on late-night cable that you're not allowed to say on a prime time broadcast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/obviously-there-s-a-million-things-we-re-allowed-to-say-on-late-night/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [In USA culture is just a matter of commerce. So, you know, I don't really look for that, and I don't expect to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/in-usa-culture-is-just-a-matter-of-commerce-so-you-know-i-don-t/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) [Explore all 74 Aaron McGruder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) ## More Ego quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [I love playing ego and insecurity combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-love-playing-ego-and-insecurity-combined/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I'm a straight shooter, and most of the time my ego doesn't interrupt my relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-macht/i-m-a-straight-shooter-and-most-of-the-time-my-ego-doesn-t-interrupt/) [Gabriel Macht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-macht/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) > [Heart surgeons do not have the world's smallest egos: when you ask them to name the world's three leading practitioners, they never can remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/heart-surgeons-do-not-have-the-world-s-smallest-egos-when-you-ask/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [I hate acting when I see it. I don't want to feel it, I don't want to see it, I want to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/i-hate-acting-when-i-see-it-i-don-t-want-to-feel-it-i-don-t-want-to/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“... a man doesn't like to have his ego popped, especially when he prides himself on his sagacity, and then to be proved wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/a-man-doesn-t-like-to-have-his-ego-popped-especially-when-he-prides/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [Our real nature is not our imaginary, limited ego. Our true nature is vast, all-comprehensive, and intangible as empty space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/our-real-nature-is-not-our-imaginary-limited-ego-our-true-nature-is/) [Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/) > [The man of wisdom is devoid of ego even though he may appear to use it. His vacant or fasting mind is neither doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramesh-s-balsekar/the-man-of-wisdom-is-devoid-of-ego-even-though-he-may-appear-to-use/) [Ramesh S Balsekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramesh-s-balsekar/) > [Show me success without ego!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivana-trump/show-me-success-without-ego/) [Ivana Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivana-trump/) [Browse all 3,462 Ego quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I pass, speak freely of my shortcomings and my flaws. Learn from them, for I'll have no ego to injure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aaron McGruder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomings-and-my-flaws-learn-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ego" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomings-and-my-flaws-learn-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/aaron-mcgruder-9271_ego_when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomi_176509.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/aaron-mcgruder-9271_ego_when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomi_176509.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/aaron-mcgruder-9271_ego_when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomi_176509.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I pass, speak freely of my shortcomings and my flaws. Learn from them, for I'll have no ego to injure.” — Aaron McGruder", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aaron McGruder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I pass, speak freely of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomings-and-my-flaws-learn-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/when-i-pass-speak-freely-of-my-shortcomings-and-my-flaws-learn-from/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```