Know Your Major Weaknesses

Romano Guardini (25) has written:

"If someone should ask, 'I would like to make progress in moral life; where shall I begin?' then we would probably answer, 'Wherever you will. You can begin with a fault of which you have become conscious in your profession or occupation. Or else you can begin with the needs of the community, with family or friends--wherever you have ascertained a failing. Or else you may be aware that some passion has power over you, and you may strive to overcome it. Basically, all that matters is that you should be honest and sincere and make a determined effort'.

"Then one thing will lead to another. For the life of man is a whole. If he grasps it anywhere with determination, then his conscience awakens and strengthens his moral power in other respects as well, just as a fault anywhere in his life makes its influence felt everywhere."

And Russell W. Gough (20) has counseled that if we are to improve our characters, we need to "identify and acknowledge those specific things in our own personal characters that require improvement--in other words, our faults and weaknesses of character. Truth is, there can be no meaningful improvement without addressing that part of ourselves . . . "

Aphorisms (20-21):

"The greatest of faults is to be conscious of none" - Thomas Carlyle.

"You cannot run away from weakness; you must some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?" - Robert Louis Stevenson.

"Know your major defect. Every talent is balanced by a fault, and if you give in to it, it will govern you like a tyrant. You can begin to overthrow it by paying heed to it: begin to conquer it by identifying it. Pay it the same attention as those who reproach you for it. To master yourself, you must reflect upon yourself. Once this imperfection has surrendered, all others will follow" - Baltasar Gracian.

Russell W. Gough (1997). Character Is Destiny : The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life. Rocklin CA: Prima.

Romano Guardini (c. 1967, 1998). Learning the Virtues: That Lead You to God. Trans., Stella Lange. Manchester NH: Sophia Institute.

Aristotle on Self-Discipline

Virtue Ethics