--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People's shortcomings should be treated…" description: "\"People's shortcomings should be treated with tact; if you expose them crudely, this is attacking weakness with a weakness. When people are stubborn, it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/zicheng-hong-7031_attacking_people-s-shortcomings-should-be-treated_683663.jpg" --- # People's shortcomings should be treated with tact; if you… ![“People's shortcomings should be treated with tact; if you expose them crudely, this is attacking weakness with a weakness. When people are stubborn, it requires skill to influence them; if you treat them with anger and spite, this is treating stubbornness with stubbornness.” quote by Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/zicheng-hong-7031_attacking_people-s-shortcomings-should-be-treated_683663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/zicheng-hong-7031_attacking_people-s-shortcomings-should-be-treated_683663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/zicheng-hong-7031_attacking_people-s-shortcomings-should-be-treated_683663.jpg) > “People's shortcomings should be treated with tact; if you expose them crudely, this is attacking weakness with a weakness. When people are stubborn, it requires skill to influence them; if you treat them with anger and spite, this is treating stubbornness with stubbornness.” [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating flaws harshly mirrors the flaw; respond with tact and patience. **In simple terms:** Harsh exposure of faults is like fighting fire with fire. Key Takeaway Use empathy and skill to influence stubborn people. Themes communication leadership conflict resolution Mood thoughtful practical Type psychological strategic When to use this quote - team management - negotiations - personal relationships - coaching Key Concepts empathy psychology strategic influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you address stubbornness without mirroring it? - What role does empathy play in influencing others? A Different Perspective Aggressive tactics can damage relationships and trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Stubbornness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stubbornness/) [Tact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tact/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [Stubbornly persist, and you will find that the limits of your stubbornness go well beyond the stubbornness of your limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/stubbornly-persist-and-you-will-find-that-the-limits-of-your/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“And I have a weakness for people with character. Those who you can see determination sparkling in their eyes. Straight-forward, knowing how to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-adel/and-i-have-a-weakness-for-people-with-character-those-who-you-can-see/) [Sarah Adel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-adel/) > [There is one weakness in people for which there is no remedy. It is the universal weakness of LACK OF AMBITION!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-is-one-weakness-in-people-for-which-there-is-no-remedy-it-is/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“It alters your mind, too. Strips away all the weakness. And most people, when it comes down to it, that´s all that´s there underneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/it-alters-your-mind-too-strips-away-all-the-weakness-and-most-people/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“If you have difference of opinions, that is your weakness. People are not wrong. No one does anything deliberately. You should ask for forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-you-have-difference-of-opinions-that-is-your-weakness-people-are/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Here's the advantage of being water: It's forgiving and ever-changing and unpredictable and strong-willed. It's stronger than rock; it can wear it down or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/here-s-the-advantage-of-being-water-it-s-forgiving-and-ever-changing/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [S s s h H h h H……, Be careful who u share Your weakness with. Some people can't wait For opportunity To use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kira/s-s-s-h-h-h-h-h-be-careful-who-u-share-your-weakness-with-some-people/) [Kira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kira/) > [In this league, if you're going to be tested, you have to answer quickly. I feel like if you show signs of weakness, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/in-this-league-if-you-re-going-to-be-tested-you-have-to-answer/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [“I think it came from being a ruling class, from never being able to show weakness to the people they have conquered - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cunningham/i-think-it-came-from-being-a-ruling-class-from-never-being-able-to/) Peter Cunningham > [“Not that they would, but if any of the other mothers had asked how it was that Sarah, of all people, had ended up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/not-that-they-would-but-if-any-of-the-other-mothers-had-asked-how-it/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [“There is a lot of weakness in people and a lot of reasons for them to be wiped away. If you are like those,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-timmins/there-is-a-lot-of-weakness-in-people-and-a-lot-of-reasons-for-them-to/) [Kara Timmins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-timmins/) > [He had found my worst weakness: I was one of those people who was desperate to be needed, to matter to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/he-had-found-my-worst-weakness-i-was-one-of-those-people-who-was/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Greatest weakness of most people is that they hesitate to express others how much they love them while they're alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/greatest-weakness-of-most-people-is-that-they-hesitate-to-express/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Be careful who you share your weakness with. Some people cant wait for the opportunity to use them against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-share-your-weakness-with-some-people-cant-wait-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest weakness of most people is that they hesitate to express to others how much they love them while they're alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/the-greatest-weakness-of-most-people-is-that-they-hesitate-to-express/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) ## More by Zicheng Hong > [In the mind engaged in struggling with hardship, one always finds something delightful. The sorrow of disappointment arises in the complacency of satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-the-mind-engaged-in-struggling-with-hardship-one-always-finds/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [People are considered pure of heart when they do not approach power and pomp; but those who can be near without being affected are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/people-are-considered-pure-of-heart-when-they-do-not-approach-power/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Blessings often give rise to injury, so be careful when things are going your way. Success may be achieved after failure, so don't just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/blessings-often-give-rise-to-injury-so-be-careful-when-things-are/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Human affairs are like a chess game. Only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only-those-who-do-not-take-it/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Public behavior is nurtured in private; earthshaking measures come form careful steps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/public-behavior-is-nurtured-in-private-earthshaking-measures-come/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Even if you do no work that is particularly lofty or far-reaching, if you can shed mundane feelings, that is a great achievement. 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If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-whatever-you-do-if-you-leave-a-sense-of-incompleteness-then/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [The road of truth is broad; set the mind on it, and you feel expansive openness and broad clarity. The road of human desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/the-road-of-truth-is-broad-set-the-mind-on-it-and-you-feel-expansive/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [When you are constantly hearing offensive words and always have some irritating matter in mind, only then do you have a whetstone for character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/when-you-are-constantly-hearing-offensive-words-and-always-have-some/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Do not think about whatever service you may have done for others; think about what you may have done to offend them. Don't forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/do-not-think-about-whatever-service-you-may-have-done-for-others/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Those who trust others will find that not everyone is necessarily sincere, but they will be sincere themselves. Those who suspect others will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/those-who-trust-others-will-find-that-not-everyone-is-necessarily/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [When water isn't rippled, it is naturally still. When a mirror isn't clouded, it is clear of itself. So the mind is not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/when-water-isn-t-rippled-it-is-naturally-still-when-a-mirror-isn-t/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [You should be forgiving when others make mistakes, but not when the mistakes are in you. You should be patient under duress yourself, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/you-should-be-forgiving-when-others-make-mistakes-but-not-when-the/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) [Explore all 95 Zicheng Hong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) ## More Attacking quotes > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I've gotten better at calling out coverages, communication, and being vertical when they're attacking me in the paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-zubac/i-ve-gotten-better-at-calling-out-coverages-communication-and-being/) [Ivica Zubac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-zubac/) > [Before I signed for Liverpool, I was playing for Newcastle as a No. 10 - basically, I was always attacking. I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [It's a big part of my game, attacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-walker/it-s-a-big-part-of-my-game-attacking/) [Kyle Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-walker/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [This is really good,” Donovan Caine said, attacking his third strawberry pancake. “You sound surprised,” I said. 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There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/for-many-years-the-stakes-were-clear-there-were-the-arabs-attacking/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) Browse all 580 Attacking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People's shortcomings should be treated with tact; if you expose them crudely, this is attacking weakness with a weakness. 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