Who said “The confession of our failings is a thankless office. It savors less of sincerity or…”?

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William Hazlitt. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceCharacteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823)

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“The confession of our failings is a thankless office. It savors less of sincerity or modesty than of ostentation. It seems as if we thought our weaknesses as good as other people's virtues.”
— William Hazlitt
VerifiedCharacteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823) · evidenceConfession

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Characteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823).

APA

Hazlitt, W. (n.d.). The confession of our failings is a thankless office. It savors less of sincerity or modesty than of ostentation. It seems as if we thought our weaknesses as good as other people's virtues. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11040-the-confession-of-our-failings-is-a-thankless/

MLA

Hazlitt, William. “The confession of our failings is a thankless office. It savors less of sincerity or modesty than of ostentation. It seems as if we thought our weaknesses as good as other people's virtues.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11040-the-confession-of-our-failings-is-a-thankless/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Hazlitt, William. “The confession of our failings is a thankless office. It savors less of sincerity or modesty than of ostentation. It seems as if we thought our weaknesses as good as other people's virtues.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/11040-the-confession-of-our-failings-is-a-thankless/.

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