--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we were faultless we should not be so…" description: "\"If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.\" — Francois Fenelon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/francois-fenelon-2077_annoyed_if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so_1295758.png" --- # If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by… ![“If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.” quote by Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/francois-fenelon-2077_annoyed_if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so_1295758.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/francois-fenelon-2077_annoyed_if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so_1295758.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/francois-fenelon-2077_annoyed_if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so_1295758.png) > “If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.” [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If we were perfect, we wouldn't be irritated by others' flaws; our imperfections cause judgment. **In simple terms:** Our imperfections make us judge others. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and compassion. Themes humility judgment imperfection Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teamwork - family life - community interactions - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you react to others' flaws? - Can you practice empathy instead? A Different Perspective Perfection is unattainable; judgment may persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Faultless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faultless/) ## Related quotes > [If we were faultless, we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate. If we were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so-much-annoyed-by-the-defects-2/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Were we faultless, we would not derive such satisfaction from remarking the faults of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/were-we-faultless-we-would-not-derive-such-satisfaction-from/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“When you see the members of your household as faultless (nirdosh) and see only your own faults, then true pratikraman will be done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-you-see-the-members-of-your-household-as-faultless-nirdosh-and/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Erasers remind us there is no faultless human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javad-alizadeh/erasers-remind-us-there-is-no-faultless-human/) [Javad Alizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javad-alizadeh/) > [But, ah me! where is the faultless human creature who can persevere in a good resolution, without sometimes failing and falling back?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/but-ah-me-where-is-the-faultless-human-creature-who-can-persevere-in/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [ “You can remain faultless only when you constantly remain as a nimit \[instrument, one of the doer and not the whole and sole doer\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/you-can-remain-faultless-only-when-you-constantly-remain-as-a-nimit/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [To think that only faultless people are worthwhile seems like an incredible exclusion of almost everything of deep value in the human saga. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/to-think-that-only-faultless-people-are-worthwhile-seems-like-an/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I am not a perfect man who has led a faultless life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-biggs/i-am-not-a-perfect-man-who-has-led-a-faultless-life/) [Ronald Biggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-biggs/) > [“Emma - "faultless, in spite of her faults”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/emma-faultless-in-spite-of-her-faults/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“To find peace in the presence of the faultless is the desire of the one who seeks excellence; and is not nothingness a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/to-find-peace-in-the-presence-of-the-faultless-is-the-desire-of-the/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [He who is faultless does not care for the opinion of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/he-who-is-faultless-does-not-care-for-the-opinion-of-others/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [If we could wake each morning with no memory of living before we went to sleep, we might arrive at a faultless day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/if-we-could-wake-each-morning-with-no-memory-of-living-before-we-went/) [Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/) > [This sweetest and best of all creatures, faultless in spite of all her faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/this-sweetest-and-best-of-all-creatures-faultless-in-spite-of-all-her/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [To forgive a fault in another is more sublime than to be faultless one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/to-forgive-a-fault-in-another-is-more-sublime-than-to-be-faultless/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [What Nature bids is good, is wise, and faultless we obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/what-nature-bids-is-good-is-wise-and-faultless-we-obey/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) ## More by Francois Fenelon > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [“If the riches of the Indies, or the crowns of all the kingdom of Europe, were laid at my feet in exchange for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-the-riches-of-the-indies-or-the-crowns-of-all-the-kingdom-of/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [That love of self, which the world advocates, is a thousand times more dangerous than any poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/that-love-of-self-which-the-world-advocates-is-a-thousand-times-more/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [There were some who said that a man at the point of death was more free than all others, because death breaks every bond,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-were-some-who-said-that-a-man-at-the-point-of-death-was-more/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Pity enlarges the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/pity-enlarges-the-heart/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [A general rule for the good use of time is to accustom oneself to live in a continual dependence on the Spirit of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/a-general-rule-for-the-good-use-of-time-is-to-accustom-oneself-to/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Nothing is more despicable than a professional talker who uses his words as a quack uses his remedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/nothing-is-more-despicable-than-a-professional-talker-who-uses-his/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Prayer is so necessary, and the source of so many blessings, that he who has discovered the treasure cannot be prevented from having recourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/prayer-is-so-necessary-and-the-source-of-so-many-blessings-that-he/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [There is no true and constant gentleness without humility. While we are so fond of ourselves, we are easily offended with others. Let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-true-and-constant-gentleness-without-humility-while-we/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Let me follow in Thy footsteps, O Jesus ! I would imitate Thee, but cannot without the aid of Thy grace! O humble and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/let-me-follow-in-thy-footsteps-o-jesus-i-would-imitate-thee-but/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [O Lord, I do most cheerfully commit all unto Thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/o-lord-i-do-most-cheerfully-commit-all-unto-thee/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Our piety must be weak and imperfect if it do not conquer our fear of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/our-piety-must-be-weak-and-imperfect-if-it-do-not-conquer-our-fear-of/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Nothing is so costly as the pursuit of a cure for imaginary ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/nothing-is-so-costly-as-the-pursuit-of-a-cure-for-imaginary-ills/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [I love my country better than my family; but I love humanity better than my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/i-love-my-country-better-than-my-family-but-i-love-humanity-better/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Crosses are of no use to us but inasmuch as we yield ourselves up to them and forget ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/crosses-are-of-no-use-to-us-but-inasmuch-as-we-yield-ourselves-up-to/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) [Explore all 187 Francois Fenelon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) ## More Annoyed quotes > [“He remained annoyed with himself until he realized that not knowing what he wanted was actually quite natural. We can never know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/he-remained-annoyed-with-himself-until-he-realized-that-not-knowing/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I think everyone has been annoyed at school or in their life, that's a type of bullying. So, you can take those feelings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-think-everyone-has-been-annoyed-at-school-or-in-their-life-that-s-a/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [You have to be quite heavily invested in someone to do them the honour of telling them you're annoyed with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/you-have-to-be-quite-heavily-invested-in-someone-to-do-them-the/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Almost all of us have an elevator or two in our lives somewhere. We wait for them, we ride on them. We're annoyed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/almost-all-of-us-have-an-elevator-or-two-in-our-lives-somewhere-we/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Each email contains an unsubscribe link. We will NEVER sell, rent, loan, or abuse your email address in ANY way. Writing has been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/each-email-contains-an-unsubscribe-link-we-will-never-sell-rent-loan/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [One of the first things we did was to find role models or mentors at companies that had achieved what we wanted to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-harper/one-of-the-first-things-we-did-was-to-find-role-models-or-mentors-at/) Mitch Harper > [We were only there for five days and during that time Tom was a bit annoyed that the French were more interested in me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalla-ward/we-were-only-there-for-five-days-and-during-that-time-tom-was-a-bit/) [Lalla Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalla-ward/) > [There are two types of people in the world: the ones that piss me off and the ones that don't. Decide which one you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-the-world-the-ones-that-piss-me-off/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a huge 'Breaking Bad' fan; I would be really annoyed if anyone told me anything about what was going to happen in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-m-a-huge-breaking-bad-fan-i-would-be-really-annoyed-if-anyone-told/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [There's always male roles I want to play. I'm so annoyed when I watch movies and go, "That could have been played by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/there-s-always-male-roles-i-want-to-play-i-m-so-annoyed-when-i-watch/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [ “Be annoyed and sin not" ~R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/be-annoyed-and-sin-not-r-alan-woods-2012/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“Jen, get a clue and read Wadim's shirt." Jacque told her dryly. Jen looked over at Wadim who, oh so helpfully, pulled his shirt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/jen-get-a-clue-and-read-wadim-s-shirt-jacque-told-her-dryly-jen/) [Quinn Loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [From the exterior face of the wall towers must be projected, from which an approaching enemy may be annoyed by weapons, from the embrasures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/from-the-exterior-face-of-the-wall-towers-must-be-projected-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [- "Women should all move to Amazonia, or at least vacation there four times a year." - "Amazonia?" - "It's the girl world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/women-should-all-move-to-amazonia-or-at-least-vacation-there-four/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I was annoyed from the start by the attitude of doubt by the spectators that I would never really make the flight. This attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-quimby/i-was-annoyed-from-the-start-by-the-attitude-of-doubt-by-the/) [Harriet Quimby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-quimby/) Browse all 446 Annoyed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois Fenelon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so-much-annoyed-by-the-defects/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Annoyed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so-much-annoyed-by-the-defects/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/francois-fenelon-2077_annoyed_if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so_1295758.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/francois-fenelon-2077_annoyed_if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so_1295758.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/francois-fenelon-2077_annoyed_if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so_1295758.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.” — Francois Fenelon", "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 Fenelon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we were faultless we should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so-much-annoyed-by-the-defects/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so-much-annoyed-by-the-defects/#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 } } ] } ```