Who said “No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves.”?

Verified

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

Source"Thoughts on Taste", Edinburgh Magazine (July 1819), final paragraph

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“No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves.”
— William Hazlitt
Verified"Thoughts on Taste", Edinburgh Magazine (July 1819), final paragraph · evidencePerfection

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "Thoughts on Taste", Edinburgh Magazine (July 1819), final paragraph.

APA

Hazlitt, W. (n.d.). No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32207-no-one-ever-approaches-perfection-except-by-stealth/

MLA

Hazlitt, William. “No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32207-no-one-ever-approaches-perfection-except-by-stealth/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Hazlitt, William. “No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32207-no-one-ever-approaches-perfection-except-by-stealth/.

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