--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trust not yourself; but your defects to…" description: "\"“Trust not yourself; but your defects to know, Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe.”\" — Alexander Pope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/alexander-pope-235_defects_trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-k_785377.png" --- # Trust not yourself; but your defects to know, Make use of… ![“Trust not yourself; but your defects to know, Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/alexander-pope-235_defects_trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-k_785377.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/alexander-pope-235_defects_trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-k_785377.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/alexander-pope-235_defects_trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-k_785377.png) > ““Trust not yourself; but your defects to know, Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe.”” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He advises self‑awareness of flaws, using both allies and adversaries as mirrors for personal growth. **In simple terms:** Know your defects, learn from all. Key Takeaway Seek feedback from friends and foes. Themes self‑knowledge humility relationships growth Mood reflective analytical thoughtful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - career development - personal coaching - conflict resolution - creative collaboration Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Who can you trust for honest feedback? - How do you turn opposition into insight? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on criticism can harm confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Introspection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introspection/) [Self image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-image/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [Trust not yourself, but your defects to know, make use of every friend and every foe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-know-make-use-of-every-friend/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [In our plain defects we already know the brotherhood of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/in-our-plain-defects-we-already-know-the-brotherhood-of-man/) [Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/) > [“Know thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Every man wants to be appreciated, so do not just commend your secretary, commend your wife at home too The world judges people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/every-man-wants-to-be-appreciated-so-do-not-just-commend-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“People will rather pass by the weak, the lame, the beggars, the orphans, the tormented, the widows and take their large offerings to church,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/people-will-rather-pass-by-the-weak-the-lame-the-beggars-the-orphans/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Most people have a time-bound awareness. And the reason is they have sacrificed their self for their self-image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/most-people-have-a-time-bound-awareness-and-the-reason-is-they-have/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [My gender has roots in my brain, possibly biochemical ones, living very close to the roots of my self-image... Far, far closer than my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/my-gender-has-roots-in-my-brain-possibly-biochemical-ones-living-very/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [“Leverage on your self-worth and convert it into net worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/leverage-on-your-self-worth-and-convert-it-into-net-worth/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [It seems a strange thing, but once I was able to get past that kind of self-image problem, I was able to open up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/it-seems-a-strange-thing-but-once-i-was-able-to-get-past-that-kind-of/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [“When we are grappling with misery and our heart is in a knot, we may well do better to snap back to a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-we-are-grappling-with-misery-and-our-heart-is-in-a-knot-we-may/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“I think this is one bad side of a mirror; it helps us to see the reflection of the effects of our own actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-think-this-is-one-bad-side-of-a-mirror-it-helps-us-to-see-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“This result suggests that cheating is not driven by concerns about standing out. Rather, it shows that our sense of our own morality is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/this-result-suggests-that-cheating-is-not-driven-by-concerns-about/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image - from inferiority to self-esteem, from fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/to-be-born-again-means-that-we-must-be-changed-from-a-negative-to-a/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [“Beauty's only skin deep. Everybody has ugly days. We're all made of the same stuff underneath. Acting right is better than looking right. Realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-delany/beauty-s-only-skin-deep-everybody-has-ugly-days-we-re-all-made-of-the/) [Shannon Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-delany/) > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Defects quotes > [It is the common defect of modern art study. Too many students do not know why they draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/it-is-the-common-defect-of-modern-art-study-too-many-students-do-not/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [With all of its defects, the global market makes war less likely, even between the USA and China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/with-all-of-its-defects-the-global-market-makes-war-less-likely-even/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/there-are-few-defects-in-our-nature-so-glaring-as-not-to-be-veiled/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [I don't want you to praise me...Some praise me because I am a colored girl, and I don't want that kind of praise. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/i-don-t-want-you-to-praise-me-some-praise-me-because-i-am-a-colored/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [The sense of tragedy - according to Aristotle - comes, ironically enough, not from the protagonist's weak points but from his good qualities. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-sense-of-tragedy-according-to-aristotle-comes-ironically-enough/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Political correctness is a major defect of the western ethos. Some Western countries have even passed blasphemy laws that would put you in legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/political-correctness-is-a-major-defect-of-the-western-ethos-some/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [Absence of defects does not necessarily build business... Something more is required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/absence-of-defects-does-not-necessarily-build-business-something-more/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Every reader should remember the diffidence of Socrates, and repair by his candour the injuries of time: he should impute the seeming defects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-reader-should-remember-the-diffidence-of-socrates-and-repair-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The essence of man is his freedom. Sin is committed in that freedom. Sin can therefore not be attributed to a defect in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/the-essence-of-man-is-his-freedom-sin-is-committed-in-that-freedom/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [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 > [The weakest man is the one who is able to correct his moral defects, but doesn't take action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/the-weakest-man-is-the-one-who-is-able-to-correct-his-moral-defects/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [Whoever recounts to you the faults of your neighbour will doubtless expose your defects to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whoever-recounts-to-you-the-faults-of-your-neighbour-will-doubtless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like all of us sinners, General Betrishchev was endowed with many virtues and many defects. Both the one and the other were scattered through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-gogol/like-all-of-us-sinners-general-betrishchev-was-endowed-with-many/) [Nikolai Gogol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-gogol/) [Browse all 559 Defects quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Trust not yourself; but your defects to know, Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Pope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-know-make-use-of-ev-ry-friend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defects" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-know-make-use-of-ev-ry-friend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/alexander-pope-235_defects_trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-k_785377.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/alexander-pope-235_defects_trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-k_785377.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/alexander-pope-235_defects_trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-k_785377.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Trust not yourself; but your defects to know, Make use of ev'ry friend—and ev'ry foe.” — Alexander Pope", "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": "Alexander Pope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Trust not yourself; but your defects...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-know-make-use-of-ev-ry-friend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/trust-not-yourself-but-your-defects-to-know-make-use-of-ev-ry-friend/#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 } } ] } ```