Unlovely Things

You accept certain unlovely things about yourself and manage to live with them.  The atonement for such an acceptance is that you make allowances for others -- that you cleanse yourself of the sin of self-righteousness.

-- Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983), American writer on social and political philosophy.  Despite rising to fame with the success and popularity of his writings, he continued to work as a longshoreman until retiring at age 65.  Working and Thinking on the Waterfront (1969) Journal entry (30 October 1958, 6:30 am)