“I do not accept the claim of saintliness…I am prone to as many weaknesses as you are. But I have seen the world. I have lived in the world with my eyes open.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Attributed to a Gandhi speech/writing (no book field); plausibly genuine but unconfirmed.
About this quote
Refusing a pedestal is itself a kind of honesty. Claiming no special immunity from weakness keeps a person grounded and reachable, while insight comes not from standing above ordinary life but from living inside it attentively, eyes open to how people actually are.
When to use it
- A mentor who admits his own past failures earns more trust than one who pretends he never stumbled.
- A counselor who says she still struggles with anger connects better than one posing as unshakable.
- A team lead who owns his mistakes in the review makes it safe for others to name theirs.