--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When man finds in himself a certain…" description: "\"“When man finds in himself a certain defect, of which he can by no means rid himself, there remains but to accept the so-called failing as a natural qu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/lev-shestov-12374_acceptance_when-man-finds-in-himself-a-certain-defe_1956422.jpg" --- # When man finds in himself a certain defect, of which he… ![“When man finds in himself a certain defect, of which he can by no means rid himself, there remains but to accept the so-called failing as a natural quality. The more grave and important the defect, the more urgent is the need to ennoble it. From sublime to ridiculous is only one step, and an…” quote by Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/lev-shestov-12374_acceptance_when-man-finds-in-himself-a-certain-defe_1956422.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/lev-shestov-12374_acceptance_when-man-finds-in-himself-a-certain-defe_1956422.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/lev-shestov-12374_acceptance_when-man-finds-in-himself-a-certain-defe_1956422.jpg) > ““When man finds in himself a certain defect, of which he can by no means rid himself, there remains but to accept the so-called failing as a natural quality. The more grave and important the defect, the more urgent is the need to ennoble it. From sublime to ridiculous is only one step, and an ineradicable vice in strong men is always rechristened a virtue.”” [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting personal flaws as inherent can be transformed into strengths, but the line between virtue and vice is thin and subjective. **In simple terms:** Flaws can become strengths if we own them. Key Takeaway Reframe defects as growth opportunities. Themes self‑acceptance transformation virtue vice philosophy Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - psychology - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts existentialism moral relativism self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - What defect could you reinterpret as a strength? - When does rebranding a vice become harmful? A Different Perspective Not all defects can be ennobled; societal norms may reject redefined virtues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Defect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defect/) [Defect Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defect-means-3204742/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Failing Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing-natural-3204740/) [Important Defect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-defect-3204741/) [Strong men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-men/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [“Lesson 16: There is no shame in failing: it is a natural part of learning and developing. If something does not work out, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ilian/lesson-16-there-is-no-shame-in-failing-it-is-a-natural-part-of/) [George Ilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ilian/) > [If I have not lost my mind I can sometimes hear it preparing to defect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-white/if-i-have-not-lost-my-mind-i-can-sometimes-hear-it-preparing-to-defect/) [Patrick White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-white/) > [Indeed envy is a defect; worse than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/indeed-envy-is-a-defect-worse-than-any-other/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [He had a defect, which to a comic might be fatal. He wasn't funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/he-had-a-defect-which-to-a-comic-might-be-fatal-he-wasn-t-funny/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [“To be perfect, one lacks only a defect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/to-be-perfect-one-lacks-only-a-defect/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [“When you have a defect, some people try not to see it only as a defect, but as your entire identity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-have-a-defect-some-people-try-not-to-see-it-only-as-a-defect/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Art is never defect-free. 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I think nearly all of us have some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-have-always-been-more-interested-in-creating-a-character-that/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [...My sister Doreena who never lifted a royal finger growing up because she had the heart defect that we later found out was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/my-sister-doreena-who-never-lifted-a-royal-finger-growing-up-because/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [Defect in manners is usually the defect of fine perceptions. Elegance comes of no breeding, but of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/defect-in-manners-is-usually-the-defect-of-fine-perceptions-elegance/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The worst defect in the world would be to consider yourself free from faults. Being too greatly saddened by one's faults can come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/the-worst-defect-in-the-world-would-be-to-consider-yourself-free-from/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) ## More by Lev Shestov > [“Art, science, love, inspiration, ideals—choose out all the words with which humanity is wont, or has been in the past, to be consoled or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/art-science-love-inspiration-ideals-choose-out-all-the-words-with/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“After a tragedy, a farce. Philosophy enters into her power, and the earth returns under one's feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/after-a-tragedy-a-farce-philosophy-enters-into-her-power-and-the/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“He did not want to be original; he made superhuman efforts to be like everybody else: but there is no escaping one's destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/he-did-not-want-to-be-original-he-made-superhuman-efforts-to-be-like/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“So long as the child was fed on its mother's milk, everything seemed to it smooth and easy. But when it had to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/so-long-as-the-child-was-fed-on-its-mother-s-milk-everything-seemed/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“Yet, with all his acuteness, it did not occur to him that Europe was not in the least to blame for his disillusionment. 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This confession gives us the key to what is most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/they-certified-that-i-was-sane-but-i-know-that-i-am-mad-this/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“More striking still, a broken man is generally deprived of everything except the ability to acknowledge and feel his position.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/more-striking-still-a-broken-man-is-generally-deprived-of-everything/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“Anton Chekhov tells the truth neither out of love or respect for the truth, nor yet because, in the Kantian manner, a high duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/anton-chekhov-tells-the-truth-neither-out-of-love-or-respect-for-the/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“Even Pushkin, who could understand everything, did not grasp the real significance of Dead Souls. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/practical-advice-people-who-read-much-must-always-keep-it-in-mind/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“Kada bi Darvin video u životu ono što je video Dostojevski, on ne bi govorio o zakonu samoodržanja nego o zakonu samouništenja.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/kada-bi-darvin-video-u-ivotu-ono-to-je-video-dostojevski-on-ne-bi/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) [Explore all 54 Lev Shestov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. 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Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. 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