--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The gentleman calls attention to the good…" description: "\"The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse of this.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/confucius-164_attention_the-gentleman-calls-attention-to-the-goo_1766162.jpg" --- # The gentleman calls attention to the good points in… ![“The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse of this.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/confucius-164_attention_the-gentleman-calls-attention-to-the-goo_1766162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/confucius-164_attention_the-gentleman-calls-attention-to-the-goo_1766162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/confucius-164_attention_the-gentleman-calls-attention-to-the-goo_1766162.jpg) > “The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. The small man does just the reverse of this.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Praise others’ strengths and avoid highlighting flaws, fostering harmony; the opposite breeds discord. **In simple terms:** Focus on positives, not negatives. Key Takeaway Highlight strengths, not weaknesses. Themes ethics leadership communication Mood thoughtful educational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - team meetings - parenting - mentoring - conflict resolution Key Concepts confucianism social harmony virtue Questions to Reflect On - How can you give balanced feedback? - When is it appropriate to address flaws? A Different Perspective People may feel ignored if only positives are mentioned. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Calls Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calls-attention-1737416/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Gentleman Calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman-calls-1737415/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Man Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-does/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverse/) [Small man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-man/) ## Related quotes > [JACK Your duty as a gentleman calls you back. ALGERNON My duty as a gentleman has never interfered with my pleasures in the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/jack-your-duty-as-a-gentleman-calls-you-back-algernon-my-duty-as-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Thus every matter, if it is to be done well, calls for the attention of the whole person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/thus-every-matter-if-it-is-to-be-done-well-calls-for-the-attention-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Poetry, almost by definition, calls attention to its language and form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/poetry-almost-by-definition-calls-attention-to-its-language-and-form/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [Working in an office with an array of electronic devices is like trying to get something done at home with half a dozen small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/working-in-an-office-with-an-array-of-electronic-devices-is-like/) [Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/) > [A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-great-man-is-hard-on-himself-a-small-man-is-hard-on-others/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A gentleman can withstand hardships; it is only the small man who, when submitted to them, is swept off his feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-gentleman-can-withstand-hardships-it-is-only-the-small-man-who-when/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Possessed of courage but devoid of morality, a superior man will make trouble while a small man will be a brigand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/possessed-of-courage-but-devoid-of-morality-a-superior-man-will-make/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The gentleman is calm and at ease. The gentleman is dignified but not proud; the small man is proud but not dignified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-gentleman-is-calm-and-at-ease-the-gentleman-is-dignified-but-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/what-the-superior-man-seeks-is-in-himself-what-the-small-man-seeks-is/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [While the gentleman cherishes benign rule, the small man cherishes his native land. While the gentleman cherishes a respect for the law, the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/while-the-gentleman-cherishes-benign-rule-the-small-man-cherishes-his/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias. The small man is biased and can see a question only from one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-gentleman-can-see-a-question-from-all-sides-without-bias-the-small/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The gentleman sees what is right while the small man sees what is profitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-gentleman-sees-what-is-right-while-the-small-man-sees-what-is/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The end of the day is near when small men make long shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-end-of-the-day-is-near-when-small-men-make-long-shadows/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The proper man understands equity, the small man profits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-proper-man-understands-equity-the-small-man-profits/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The small man thinks that small acts of goodness are of no benefit, and does not do them; and that small deeds of evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-small-man-thinks-that-small-acts-of-goodness-are-of-no-benefit/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The gentleman calls attention to the good points in others; he does not call attention to their defects. 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