---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Careless their merits or their faults to…"
description: "\"Careless their merits or their faults to scan, His pity gave ere charity began. Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride, And even his failings lean'..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/oliver-goldsmith-772_careless_careless-their-merits-or-their-faults-to_3013695.png"
---

#  Careless their merits or their faults to scan, His pity…

![“Careless their merits or their faults to scan, His pity gave ere charity began. Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride, And even his failings lean'd to Virtue's side.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/oliver-goldsmith-772_careless_careless-their-merits-or-their-faults-to_3013695.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/oliver-goldsmith-772_careless_careless-their-merits-or-their-faults-to_3013695.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/oliver-goldsmith-772_careless_careless-their-merits-or-their-faults-to_3013695.png)

> “Careless their merits or their faults to scan, His pity gave ere charity began. Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride, And even his failings lean'd to Virtue's side.”

[Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Compassionate charity stems from empathy; even flaws can be virtuous when motivated by pity.

**In simple terms:** Charity arises from pity, turning flaws into virtue.

Key Takeaway

Let empathy guide charitable actions.

Themes

compassion charity empathy

Mood

thoughtful warm

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- social work
- volunteering
- community aid

Key Concepts

ethics philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you give without condescension?
- What motivates your empathy?

A Different Perspective

Charity may be patronizing if not respectful.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/)

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> [The people with very hard problems are understood by God. He knows what wretched machines they are trying to drive. Some day he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-people-with-very-hard-problems-are-understood-by-god-he-knows/)

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## More by Oliver Goldsmith

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