--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is in our faults and failings, not in…" description: "\"It is in our faults and failings, not in our virtues, that we touch each other, and find sympathy. It is in our follies that we are one.\" — Jerome K. J..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/jerome-k-jerome-1155_character_it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in_298659.png" --- # It is in our faults and failings, not in our virtues, that… ![“It is in our faults and failings, not in our virtues, that we touch each other, and find sympathy. It is in our follies that we are one.” quote by Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/jerome-k-jerome-1155_character_it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in_298659.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/jerome-k-jerome-1155_character_it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in_298659.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/jerome-k-jerome-1155_character_it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in_298659.png) > “It is in our faults and failings, not in our virtues, that we touch each other, and find sympathy. It is in our follies that we are one.” [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our shared imperfections create empathy; flaws bind us more than virtues. **In simple terms:** Flaws foster connection. Key Takeaway Embrace shared humanity. Themes empathy humanity imperfection connection community Mood warm insightful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - friendships - teamwork - conflict resolution - mental health Key Concepts psychology of sympathy shared experience social bonding Questions to Reflect On - What common flaws unite you with others? - How can acknowledging imperfection improve relationships? A Different Perspective Idealizing virtue can isolate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Failings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failings/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Follies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follies/) [Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathy/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) ## Related quotes > [It is in our faults and failings, not in our virtues, that we touch one another and find sympathy. We differ widely enough in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in-our-virtues-that-we-touch-one/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [No man, however enslaved to his appetites, or hurried by his passions, can, while he preserves his intellects unimpaired, please himself with promoting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-man-however-enslaved-to-his-appetites-or-hurried-by-his-passions/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Foibles are like alphabets; they collate and cascade into a prose of follies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabbeer-ahmed/foibles-are-like-alphabets-they-collate-and-cascade-into-a-prose-of/) Shabbeer Ahmed > [Of all follies there is none greater than wanting to makethe world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/of-all-follies-there-is-none-greater-than-wanting-to-makethe-world-a/) [Molière](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Many brief follies--that is what you call love. And your marriage puts an end to many brief follies, with a single long stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/many-brief-follies-that-is-what-you-call-love-and-your-marriage-puts/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“what with the follies and an indecent proposal it's been quite a night”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/what-with-the-follies-and-an-indecent-proposal-it-s-been-quite-a-night/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [I grew up with "Follies." I saw it when I was fifteen. It was the original production, and of course, that production will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-busch/i-grew-up-with-follies-i-saw-it-when-i-was-fifteen-it-was-the/) [Charles Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-busch/) > [Though you may be last to discover your follies, be always first to correct them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/though-you-may-be-last-to-discover-your-follies-be-always-first-to/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Every man has his follies - and often they are the most interesting thing he has got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/every-man-has-his-follies-and-often-they-are-the-most-interesting/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“And aren't the most beautiful follies the ones linked to love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/and-aren-t-the-most-beautiful-follies-the-ones-linked-to-love/) [Irène Némirovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/) > [“Beauty lies in the LIES of the beholder!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-kallarakkal/beauty-lies-in-the-lies-of-the-beholder/) [Ashok Kallarakkal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-kallarakkal/) > [We should begin to remind people they are always after your money and if you are on something around average earnings you really don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-redwood/we-should-begin-to-remind-people-they-are-always-after-your-money-and/) [John Redwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-redwood/) > [“I love, I love beauty and in it I worship my follies, the ones I found on my own, and the ones to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adonis/i-love-i-love-beauty-and-in-it-i-worship-my-follies-the-ones-i-found/) Adonis > [If we will have the kindness of others, we must endure their follies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-we-will-have-the-kindness-of-others-we-must-endure-their-follies/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Of all the follies the greatest is to love the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-all-the-follies-the-greatest-is-to-love-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jerome K. Jerome > [“George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/george-goes-to-sleep-at-a-bank-from-ten-to-four-each-day-except/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/he-would-use-a-bit-of-string-this-time-and-at-the-critical-moment/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. No; if it were men wouldn't be ashamed of it. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-poverty-is-no-crime-no-if-it-were-men/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Love is woman's business,and in "business" we all lay aside our natural weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/love-is-woman-s-business-and-in-business-we-all-lay-aside-our-natural/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [We are but the veriest, sorriest slaves of our stomach. Reach not after morality and righteousness, my friends; watch vigilantly your stomach, and diet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/we-are-but-the-veriest-sorriest-slaves-of-our-stomach-reach-not-after/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“There was no ground-floor — its ground-floor belonged to a house in the next court, and the front door opened direct upon a flight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/there-was-no-ground-floor-its-ground-floor-belonged-to-a-house-in-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“I can understand the ignorant masses loving to soak themselves in drink—oh, yes, it's very shocking that they should, of course—very shocking to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-can-understand-the-ignorant-masses-loving-to-soak-themselves-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [ They \[dogs\] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/they-dogs-never-talk-about-themselves-but-listen-to-you-while-you/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“And we sit there, by its margin, while the moon, who loves it too, stoops down to kiss it with a sister’s kiss, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/and-we-sit-there-by-its-margin-while-the-moon-who-loves-it-too-stoops/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“The only feeling that a closer intimacy has created in him for his wife is that of indulgent contempt. As there is no equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/the-only-feeling-that-a-closer-intimacy-has-created-in-him-for-his/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Evil thought is a dangerous pet. It is safer to play with it from behind the iron bars of circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/evil-thought-is-a-dangerous-pet-it-is-safer-to-play-with-it-from/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble with the rest; and if you can do with a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/if-you-are-foolish-enough-to-be-contented-don-t-show-it-but-grumble/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Life will always remain a gamble, with prizes sometimes for the imprudent, and blanks so often to the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/life-will-always-remain-a-gamble-with-prizes-sometimes-for-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never "weeps, he knows not why."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) [Explore all 267 Jerome K. Jerome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## 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 > [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": "It is in our faults and failings, not in our virtues, that we touch each other, and find sympathy. It is in our follies that we are one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerome K. Jerome" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in-our-virtues-that-we-touch/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in-our-virtues-that-we-touch/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/jerome-k-jerome-1155_character_it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in_298659.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/jerome-k-jerome-1155_character_it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in_298659.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/jerome-k-jerome-1155_character_it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in_298659.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is in our faults and failings, not in our virtues, that we touch each other, and find sympathy. It is in…” — Jerome K. Jerome", "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": "Jerome K. Jerome", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is in our faults and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in-our-virtues-that-we-touch/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-in-our-faults-and-failings-not-in-our-virtues-that-we-touch/#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 } } ] } ```