It wounds a man less to confess that he has failed in any pursuit through idleness, neglect, the love of pleasure, etc., etc., which are his own faults, than through incapacity and unfitness, which are the faults of his nature.

Summary

This quote suggests that it is easier for a person to admit failure in any endeavor that resulted from their own flaws such as laziness, negligence, or indulgence in pleasure. On the other hand, it is much harder to accept failure if it stems from inherent inadequacy and incompetence, which are considered to be flaws of one's nature. Essentially, admitting one's own faults is more tolerable than acknowledging inherent shortcomings or flaws that are beyond personal control.

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