Who said “Whenever I dwell for any length of time on my own shortcomings, they gradually begin to…”?

Verified

Margaret Halsey. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceWith Malice Toward Some (1938)

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“Whenever I dwell for any length of time on my own shortcomings, they gradually begin to seem mild, harmless, rather engaging little things, not at all like the staring defects in other people's characters.”
— Margaret Halsey
VerifiedWith Malice Toward Some (1938) · evidenceFaults

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: With Malice Toward Some (1938).

APA

Halsey, M. (n.d.). Whenever I dwell for any length of time on my own shortcomings, they gradually begin to seem mild, harmless, rather engaging little things, not at all like the staring defects in other people's characters. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17734-whenever-i-dwell-for-any-length-of-time/

MLA

Halsey, Margaret. “Whenever I dwell for any length of time on my own shortcomings, they gradually begin to seem mild, harmless, rather engaging little things, not at all like the staring defects in other people's characters.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17734-whenever-i-dwell-for-any-length-of-time/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Halsey, Margaret. “Whenever I dwell for any length of time on my own shortcomings, they gradually begin to seem mild, harmless, rather engaging little things, not at all like the staring defects in other people's characters.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17734-whenever-i-dwell-for-any-length-of-time/.

Related quotes

“People may flatter themselves just as much by thinking that their faults are always present to other people's minds, as if they believe that the world is always contemplating their individual charms and virtues.”
— Elizabeth Gaskell
VerifiedWives and Daughters, ch. 50 (1864-5) · evidenceDetails & citeFaults

More quotes by Margaret Halsey

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