--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Weakness of character is the only defect…" description: "\"Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect_1551226.png" --- # Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be… ![“Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect_1551226.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect_1551226.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect_1551226.png) > “Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character flaws are hard to fix, especially moral weakness. **In simple terms:** Weakness is hard to change. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner strength. Themes morality self-improvement virtue Mood reflective serious Type philosophical self-help When to use this quote - self-reflection - coaching - leadership training Key Concepts ethical psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - What habits reinforce weakness? - Can weakness be transformed? A Different Perspective Change may require external support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Defect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-defect-1589194/) [Defect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defect/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-character-483897/) ## Related quotes > [Being positive may be a character defect of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/being-positive-may-be-a-character-defect-of-mine/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character; it becomes lack of power to act with courage proportionate to danger. All this must lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/weakness-of-attitude-becomes-weakness-of-character-it-becomes-lack-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [My thing is, I'm just way too harsh. It's an enormous impediment, and that's just the truth of it. It doesn't make me any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/my-thing-is-i-m-just-way-too-harsh-it-s-an-enormous-impediment-and/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Sloth is the thief of time. The character defect of putting off actions “until things get better” is one of the most destructive detours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-p/sloth-is-the-thief-of-time-the-character-defect-of-putting-off/) [Bill P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-p/) > [I had to bite back a laugh. "Cary Taylor. Loving you isn't a character defect." Chapter 12, pg 213](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-had-to-bite-back-a-laugh-cary-taylor-loving-you-isn-t-a-character/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“It's at moments like these in a game that the essentials of his character are exposed: narrow, ineffectual, stupid—and morally so. The game becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-s-at-moments-like-these-in-a-game-that-the-essentials-of-his/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [part of the problem with a war on poverty today is that many Americans have decided that being poor is a character defect, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/part-of-the-problem-with-a-war-on-poverty-today-is-that-many/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“If you’re not a good cook by the time you’re our age it’s a serious character defect, and it means something bad, something ungenerous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-dederer/if-you-re-not-a-good-cook-by-the-time-you-re-our-age-it-s-a-serious/) [Claire Dederer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-dederer/) > [“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character. —Albert Einstein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-greshes/weakness-of-attitude-becomes-weakness-of-character-albert-einstein/) [Warren Greshes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-greshes/) > [I always thought fainting showed an inherent weakness of character, but I understood it now. It was an act of self-preservation. Confronted by emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-always-thought-fainting-showed-an-inherent-weakness-of-character/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Weakness of character in a person is reflected as weakness of attitude & lack of confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/weakness-of-character-in-a-person-is-reflected-as-weakness-of/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Irrespective of what trials lie on your path or what desires or wishes subside unfulfilled; Even numerous dreams that are left delayed, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkululeko-goqo/irrespective-of-what-trials-lie-on-your-path-or-what-desires-or/) [Nkululeko Goqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkululeko-goqo/) > [One is apt to think of moral failure as due to weakness of character: more often it is due to an inadequate ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/one-is-apt-to-think-of-moral-failure-as-due-to-weakness-of-character/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [Weakness in self belief becomes weakness of character & of low self esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/weakness-in-self-belief-becomes-weakness-of-character-of-low-self/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [It is a strength of character to acknowledge our failings and our strong points, and it is a weakness of character not to remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/it-is-a-strength-of-character-to-acknowledge-our-failings-and-our/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect-which-cannot-be-amended/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect-which-cannot-be-amended/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect_1551226.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect_1551226.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect_1551226.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "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": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Weakness of character is the only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect-which-cannot-be-amended/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/weakness-of-character-is-the-only-defect-which-cannot-be-amended/#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 } } ] } ```