--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Defects and weakness in men's…" description: "\"Defects and weakness in men's understandings, as well as other faculties, come from want of a right use of their own minds; I am apt to think, the faul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/john-locke-814_complaints_defects-and-weakness-in-men-s-understand_3236101.png" --- # Defects and weakness in men's understandings, as well as… ![“Defects and weakness in men's understandings, as well as other faculties, come from want of a right use of their own minds; I am apt to think, the fault is generally mislaid upon nature, and there is often a complaint of want of parts, when the fault lies in want of a due improvement of them.” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/john-locke-814_complaints_defects-and-weakness-in-men-s-understand_3236101.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/john-locke-814_complaints_defects-and-weakness-in-men-s-understand_3236101.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/john-locke-814_complaints_defects-and-weakness-in-men-s-understand_3236101.png) > “Defects and weakness in men's understandings, as well as other faculties, come from want of a right use of their own minds; I am apt to think, the fault is generally mislaid upon nature, and there is often a complaint of want of parts, when the fault lies in want of a due improvement of them.” [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human flaws arise from misusing the mind rather than lacking parts; improvement comes from proper mental development. **In simple terms:** Mistakes are due to poor thinking, not missing pieces. Key Takeaway Cultivate disciplined thinking. Themes philosophy human nature education self‑improvement Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - educational reform - self‑assessment - mental training Key Concepts cognitive development mindfulness critical thinking self‑knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How can we better train our minds? - What habits hinder proper mental use? A Different Perspective Improving the mind requires effort and may be limited by entrenched habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complaints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaints/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Defects Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects-weakness-6140425/) [Dues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) [Faculty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faculty/) [Fault Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fault-generally-6140424/) [Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faults/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Understandings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-understandings-1772124/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-men-1228970/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [The difference, so observable in men's understandings and parts, does not arise so much from their natural faculties, as acquired habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-difference-so-observable-in-men-s-understandings-and-parts-does/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Money demands that you sell, not your weakness to men's stupidity, but your talent to their reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/money-demands-that-you-sell-not-your-weakness-to-men-s-stupidity-but/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The weakness of most men they do not know how to become a stone or tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aime-cesaire/the-weakness-of-most-men-they-do-not-know-how-to-become-a-stone-or/) [Aime Cesaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aime-cesaire/) > [Women deluded by these sentiments, sometimes boast of their weakness, cunningly obtaining power by playing on the weakness of men; and they may well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/women-deluded-by-these-sentiments-sometimes-boast-of-their-weakness/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The strength of women is the pretense of weakness, and the weakness of men is the pretense of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-strength-of-women-is-the-pretense-of-weakness-and-the-weakness-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you say that Christ did not die for all men, you are abusing a weakness of men, who at once apply this exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-you-say-that-christ-did-not-die-for-all-men-you-are-abusing-a/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [For the Divine Being cannot be declared as it exists: but as we who are fettered in the flesh were able to listen, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/for-the-divine-being-cannot-be-declared-as-it-exists-but-as-we-who/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [~Annalove's When You Really Love A Woman Or Man ~ If when a man truly loves his woman she becomes his weakness, then men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiana-evans/annalove-s-when-you-really-love-a-woman-or-man-if-when-a-man-truly/) [Kristiana Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiana-evans/) > [“I knew then, in that small moment, that all my life I would be the kind of woman that inspired weakness in men. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nanci-kincaid/i-knew-then-in-that-small-moment-that-all-my-life-i-would-be-the-kind/) [Nanci Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nanci-kincaid/) > [“I forgive them because they're human and weak. The longer I live, the more I am overwhelmed by the utter, utter weakness of men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-forgive-them-because-they-re-human-and-weak-the-longer-i-live-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The weakness of men is the facade of strength; the strength of women is the facade of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-weakness-of-men-is-the-facade-of-strength-the-strength-of-women/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Showing emotion is showing weakness. 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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/) ## More by John Locke > [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [I pretend not to teach, but to inquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-pretend-not-to-teach-but-to-inquire/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If we trace the progress of our minds, and with attention observe how it repeats, adds together, and unites its simple ideas received from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-we-trace-the-progress-of-our-minds-and-with-attention-observe-how/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Thus parents, by humouring and cockering them when little, corrupt the principles of nature in their children, and wonder afterwards to taste the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/thus-parents-by-humouring-and-cockering-them-when-little-corrupt-the/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [ “\[M\]an is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/m-an-is-not-permitted-without-censure-to-follow-his-own-thoughts-in/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/fashion-for-the-most-part-is-nothing-but-the-ostentation-of-riches/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/when-we-know-our-own-strength-we-shall-the-better-know-what-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/every-man-has-a-property-in-his-own-person-this-nobody-has-a-right-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“Earthly minds, like mud-walls, resist the strongest batteries: And though perhaps sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/earthly-minds-like-mud-walls-resist-the-strongest-batteries-and/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“To avoid this state of war (wherein there is no appeal but to heaven, and wherein every the least difference is apt to end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/to-avoid-this-state-of-war-wherein-there-is-no-appeal-but-to-heaven/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/if-by-gaining-knowledge-we-destroy-our-health-we-labour-for-a-thing/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“don’t let the things you don’t have prevent you from using the things you do have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/don-t-let-the-things-you-don-t-have-prevent-you-from-using-the-things/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Power to do good is the true and lawful act of aspiring; for good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men are little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/power-to-do-good-is-the-true-and-lawful-act-of-aspiring-for-good/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [The body of People may with Respect resist intolerable Tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-body-of-people-may-with-respect-resist-intolerable-tyranny/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Anger is uneasiness or discomposure of the mind upon the receipt of any injury, with a present purpose of revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/anger-is-uneasiness-or-discomposure-of-the-mind-upon-the-receipt-of/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) [Explore all 355 John Locke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## More Complaints quotes > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Gratitude is the law of increase, and complaint is the law of decrease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/gratitude-is-the-law-of-increase-and-complaint-is-the-law-of-decrease/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [I was so drunk last night I fell down and missed the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-was-so-drunk-last-night-i-fell-down-and-missed-the-floor/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [Wherever I am, I see the yoke on women in some form or another. 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