It is curious that our own offenses should seem so much less heinous than the offenses of others. I suppose the reason is that we know all the circumstances that have occasioned them and so manage to excuse in ourselves what we cannot excuse in others.We turn our attention away from our own defects, and when we are forced by untoward events to consider them, find it easy to condone them.For all I know we are right to do this；they are part of us and we must accept the good and bad in ourselves together.
But when we come to judge others, it is not by ourselves as we really are that we judge them, but by an image that we have formed of ourselves for which we have left out everything that offends our vanity or would discredit us in the eyes of the world.To take a trivial instance：how scornful we are when we catch someone out telling a lie；but who can say that he has never told not one, but a hundred?
There is not much to choose between men. They are all a hotchpotch of greatness and littleness, of virtue and vice, of nobility and baseness.Some have more strength of character, or more opportunity, and so in one direction or another give their instincts freer play, but potentially they are the same.For my part, I do not think I am any better or any worse than most people, but I know that if I set down every action in my life and every thought that has crossed my mind, the world would consider me a monster of depravity.The knowledge that these reveries are common to all men should inspire one with tolerance to oneself as well as to others.It is well also if they enable us to look upon our fellows, even the most eminent and respectable, with humor, and if they lead us to take ourselves not too seriously.
-offense [əˈfens]n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪
典型例句
I hope you will not take any offense at my words.
我希望你对我讲的话请别见怪。
最常用法
offense against 冒犯
联想记忆
offend v.冒犯
offensive adj.讨厌的，攻击性的，无礼的
-occasion [əˈkeɪʒn]v.引起或招致某事物，为某事物的原因
典型例句
What occasioned such an angry response?
何故引起如此愤怒的反应？
最常用法
on occasion 不时，必要时
on the occasion of sth.在某事件的时候
联想记忆
cause v.引起
-defect [ˈdiːfekt]n.缺点，不足之处
典型例句
He was born with a hearing defect.
他患有先天性听力缺损。
联想记忆
fault n.缺点，缺陷
shortcoming n.缺点，短处
-untoward [ˌʌntəˈwɔːd]adj.不便的，不幸的，造成困难的
典型例句
I’ll come if nothing untoward happens.
要是没有特殊情况我一定来。
联想记忆
adverse adj.不利的
trouble n.困难，麻烦
-condone [kənˈdəun]v.宽恕，原谅
典型例句
I couldn’t condone what she was doing.
我无法容忍她在做的事。
联想记忆
excuse v.宽恕
forgive v.原谅，宽恕
-vanity [ˈvænətɪ]n.自负，虚荣，虚荣心
典型例句
The woman is always feeling after vanity.
这女人一贯追求虚荣。
联想记忆
pride n.自豪，骄傲
-discredit [dɪsˈkredɪt]v.使……被怀疑；败坏……的名声 n.丧失名
誉；耻辱
典型例句
Such behavior can only reflect discredit upon you.
这种行为只会给你招来耻辱。
最常用法
discredit to sb./sth.败坏名声的人/事
联想记忆
discreditable adj.败坏名声的，丢脸的
shame v.使（某人）感到羞愧
disgrace v.出丑，丢脸
credit v.归功于
-trivial [ˈtrɪvɪəl]adj.不重要的，琐碎的
典型例句
I know it sounds trivial, but I’m worried about it.
我知道这事听起来微不足道，但我还是放心不下。
最常用法
trivial problem/matter 小问题/事情
联想记忆
worthless adj.无价值的，没有用处的
important adj.重要的
-scornful [ˈskɔ：nfʊl]n.轻蔑的
典型例句
She flung him a scornful look.她轻蔑地看了他一眼。
最常用法
be scornful of 蔑视
联想记忆
scorn n.&v.轻蔑，藐视
-.potentially [pəˈtenʃəlɪ]adv.潜在地
典型例句
The disease is potentially fatal.
这种疾病可能会致命。
联想记忆
potential n.潜在性，可能性 adj.有潜力的，潜在的，可能的
让人奇怪的是，和别人的过错比起来，我们自身的过错往往不是那样的可恶。我想，其原因应该是我们知晓一切导致自己犯错的情况，因此能够设法谅解自己的错误，而别人的错误却不能谅解。我们对自己的缺点不甚关注，即便是深陷困境而不得不正视它们的时候，我们也会很容易就宽恕自己。据我所知，我们这样做是正确的。缺点是我们自身的一部分，我们必须接纳自己的好和坏。
但是当我们评判别人的时候，情况就不同了。我们不是通过真实的自我来评判别人，而是用一种自我形象来评判，这种自我形象完全摒弃了在任何世人眼中会伤害到自己的虚荣或者体面的东西。举一个小例子来说：当觉察到别人说谎时，我们是多么地蔑视他啊！但是，谁能够说自己从未说过谎？可能还不止一百次呢。
人和人之间没什么大的差别。他们皆是伟大与渺小，善良与邪恶，高尚与低俗的混合体。有的人性格比较坚毅，机会也比较多，因而在这个或那个方面，能够更自由地发挥自己的禀赋，但是人类的潜能却都是相同的。至于我自己，我认为自己并不比大多数人更好或者更差，但是我知道，假如我记下我生命中每一次举动和每一个掠过我脑海的想法的话，世界就会将我视为一个邪恶的怪物。每个人都会有这样的怪念头，这样的认识应当能够启发我们宽容自己，也宽容他人。同时，假如因此我们得以用幽默的态度看待他人，即使是天下最优秀最令人尊敬的人，而且假如我们也因此不把自己看得过于重要，那是很有裨益的。