I am not so shocked by savages who roast and eat the bodies of their dead as by those who torture and persecute the living.

I wouldn't presume to weigh suffering against sins.

If we had no faults of our own, we should not take so much pleasure in noticing those in others.

Because I am not a touchy-feely person, I always feel this light shock, this surprise, really, when my skin comes into contact with another person’s skin. Sometimes that shock is pleasant, like Oh, here is my body in the world. Sometimes, it is not. I never know which it will be.

If we had no faults we should not find so much enjoyment in seeing faults in others

Don't sound so surprised. I have sensible moments, you know.

I have the defect of being more
sincere than persons wish.

I can't expect others to share my virtues. It's good enough for me if they share my vices.

It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.

I think that it can be assumed that no adults are ever really 'shocked' - that being shocked is always a pose.

Es normal esperar de alguien poco instruido que atribuya a los demás sus propias desgracias; de una persona que comienza a instruirse, reprocharse a sí misma; y de una persona altamente instruida, no reprochar ni a los demás ni a sí misma.

On the abstract level, I have turned the belief in my own fallibility into the cornerstone of an elaborate philosophy. On a personal level, I am a very critical person who looks for defects in myself as well as in others. But, being so critical, I am also quite forgiving. I couldn't recognize my mistakes if I couldn't forgive myself. To others, being wrong is a source of shame; to me, recognizing my mistakes is a source of pride. Once we realize that imperfect understanding is the human condition, there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our mistakes.

Do not be concerned with the faults of other persons. Do not see others' faults with a hateful mind. There is an old saying that if you stop seeing others' faults, then naturally seniors and venerated and juniors are revered. Do not imitate others' faults; just cultivate virtue. Buddha prohibited unwholesome actions, but did not tell us to hate those who practice unwholesome actions.

We are not designed to be critical of others or ourselves; we think ill of others only out of fear.