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There are some faults so nearly allied to excellence that we can scarce weed out the vice without eradicating the virtue.
Oliver Goldsmith
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Some flaws are closely connected to strengths, making it difficult to eliminate the flaws without also losing the strengths.

In this quote, Oliver Goldsmith suggests that certain faults are intertwined with virtues in such a way that attempting to correct or remove them could simultaneously lead to the loss of valuable qualities. This reflects the complexity of human nature, where flaws and virtues coexist, highlighting the importance of understanding and managing both rather than attempting to eliminate one completely.

Themes

FaultsVirtuesExcellenceComplexityHuman Nature

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about personal development, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for self-acceptance.

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