--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There may be one fault in a man that…" description: "\"There may be one fault in a man that conceals a thousand qualities, or one excellence that conceals a thousand faults. The little indicates much.\" — Sh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/shams-tabrizi-14659_excellence_there-may-be-one-fault-in-a-man-that-con_2455587.png" --- # There may be one fault in a man that conceals a thousand… ![“There may be one fault in a man that conceals a thousand qualities, or one excellence that conceals a thousand faults. The little indicates much.” quote by Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/shams-tabrizi-14659_excellence_there-may-be-one-fault-in-a-man-that-con_2455587.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/shams-tabrizi-14659_excellence_there-may-be-one-fault-in-a-man-that-con_2455587.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/shams-tabrizi-14659_excellence_there-may-be-one-fault-in-a-man-that-con_2455587.png) > “There may be one fault in a man that conceals a thousand qualities, or one excellence that conceals a thousand faults. The little indicates much.” [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A single flaw can hide many virtues, and a single virtue can mask many flaws; small details reveal true character. **In simple terms:** Minor traits reveal deeper qualities. Key Takeaway Pay attention to subtle signs. Themes character perception duality integrity self‑awareness Mood insightful analytical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - relationships - leadership - personal growth - evaluation Key Concepts hidden virtues concealed flaws Questions to Reflect On - What small signs do you notice in others? - How can we balance praise and criticism? A Different Perspective Judging solely on minor traits can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) ## Related quotes > [Great men too often have greater faults than little men can find room for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/great-men-too-often-have-greater-faults-than-little-men-can-find-room/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [He that avoideth not small faults, by little and little falleth into greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/he-that-avoideth-not-small-faults-by-little-and-little-falleth-into/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [ The faults of which we ask you \[God\] the remittance, it is you who make us commit them; the traps of which we implore… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/the-faults-of-which-we-ask-you-god-the-remittance-it-is-you-who-make/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [How dare you? How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It's not right, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/how-dare-you-how-dare-you-create-a-world-in-which-there-is-such/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [We always remember our faults when they are known to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/we-always-remember-our-faults-when-they-are-known-to-people/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Talent is like a birthmark - it's a gift and no credit nor fault to those who wear them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-marion-russell/talent-is-like-a-birthmark-it-s-a-gift-and-no-credit-nor-fault-to/) [Charles Marion Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-marion-russell/) > [How come you don't feel that magic in the air? I guess I knew you'll never be there. I guess I knew you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-come-you-don-t-feel-that-magic-in-the-air-i-guess-i-knew-you-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/my-days-the-blossom-of-my-youth-and-the-flower-of-my-manhood-have/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) ## More by Shams Tabrizi > [Being the companion of the folk of this world is fire. There must be an Abraham if the fire is not going to burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/being-the-companion-of-the-folk-of-this-world-is-fire-there-must-be/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [The salat can be made up for, but there is no making up for false show or outward worship without presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/the-salat-can-be-made-up-for-but-there-is-no-making-up-for-false-show/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [It is easy to love perfection. The difficulty consists in loving the human with his good and bad. We mostly know as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/it-is-easy-to-love-perfection-the-difficulty-consists-in-loving-the/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [The life we live is just a colourful and deposit toy. Some of us take it so seriously and fight and cry for it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/the-life-we-live-is-just-a-colourful-and-deposit-toy-some-of-us-take/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [There are more fake guides, teachers in the world than stars. The real guide is the one who makes you see your inner beauty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/there-are-more-fake-guides-teachers-in-the-world-than-stars-the-real/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [When a sincere woman begins to dance, the seven heavens, the earth, and all creatures begin to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/when-a-sincere-woman-begins-to-dance-the-seven-heavens-the-earth-and/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [Whoever lives as he sees fit will not die as he sees fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/whoever-lives-as-he-sees-fit-will-not-die-as-he-sees-fit/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [To get closer to Truth and Right, we need a beautiful and soft heart. Every human learns one day or another to become softer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/to-get-closer-to-truth-and-right-we-need-a-beautiful-and-soft-heart/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [Don't search for heaven and hell in the future. Both are now present. Whenever we manage to love without expectations, calculations, negotiations, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/don-t-search-for-heaven-and-hell-in-the-future-both-are-now-present/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [Surrendering is not a weakness. At the contrary it is strength. The surrender stops living in boiling water and starts living in a secure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/surrendering-is-not-a-weakness-at-the-contrary-it-is-strength-the/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [The universe is a complete unique entity. Everything and everyone is bound together with some invisible strings. Do not break anyone’s heart; do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/the-universe-is-a-complete-unique-entity-everything-and-everyone-is/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [The past is a fog on our minds. The future? A complete dream. We can't neither guess the future, neither change the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/the-past-is-a-fog-on-our-minds-the-future-a-complete-dream-we-can-t/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [It is pointless trying to know where the way leads. Think only about your first step, the rest will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/it-is-pointless-trying-to-know-where-the-way-leads-think-only-about/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [The past is an interpretation. The future is on illusion. The world does not more through time as if it were a straight line,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/the-past-is-an-interpretation-the-future-is-on-illusion-the-world/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [Most of conflicts and tensions are due to language. Don't pay so much attention to the words. In love’s country, language doesn't have its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/most-of-conflicts-and-tensions-are-due-to-language-don-t-pay-so-much/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) [Explore all 45 Shams Tabrizi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) ## More Excellence quotes > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) Philip Selznick > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There may be one fault in a man that conceals a thousand qualities, or one excellence that conceals a thousand faults. 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