Baltasar Gracian's Aphorism #161: Know your pet Faults. "The most perfect of men has them, and is either wedded to them or has illicit relations with them. They are often faults of intellect, and the greater this is, the greater they are, or at least the more conspicuous. It is not so much that their possessor does not know them: he loves them, which is a double evil: irrational affection for avoidable faults. They are spots on perfection; they displease the onlooker as much as they please the possessor. ’Tis a gallant thing to get clear of them, and so give play to one's other qualities. For allmen hit upon such a failing, and on going over your qualifications they make a long stay at this blot, and blacken it as deeply as possible in order to cast your other talents into the shade."
My interpretation: some faults become so comfortable and give such pleasure that they almost feel like virtues. Gossip is a common one.
This aphorism may seem to be at conflict with another one from Gracian which cautions people against being perfect because it will annoy onlookers and cause them to dislike you. In that bit of advice, Gracian suggests cultivating a flaw to deflect the criticism and to make you appear more 'human'. I don't think the two aphorisms are at odds, however. The reason: you do not love a cultivated flaw. You probably see it as a necessary evil or an accommodation which you may well display only in public; for example, an eccentricity of dress or a feigned forgetfulness. Gracian's aphorism 161 cautions against the flaws that are loved and savored such as overeating, expressing constant resentment toward a rival, complaining, bragging...
The loved flaws may be private as well, especially when the person recognizes the flaw for what it is...but cleaves to it nonetheless. As often as not, the person will defend the flaw even to himself with rationalizations like "I deserve to pamper myself" or "everyone does it." This is the "illicit relationship" of which Gracian writes. Or the flaw may be put on public display, especially if it is common to many people, like gossiping. The habit might be reinforced by people's reactions; for example, they might listen intently or provide their own juicy tidbits in return...but they will not respect the gossiper in his absence. And the spreading of rumors -- or, even worse, the spreading of damning truths -- is a dangerous pursuit that is bound to backfire sooner or later. Probably sooner.
Ask yourself, "What is my comfortable weakness?" One of mine is withdrawing from many social situations because it is easier than confront an acute shyness with which I sometimes think I was born. I miss out on opportunities and probably some friendships because of it. I rationalize the withdrawal to myself as "needing to work" or "being a bookworm".....and sometimes the 'excuse' is true. Sometimes it is just an excuse. I don't know how much more I would socialize without the shyness but I do know that I'd like the option of doing so to be a choice rather than the 'forced choice' it can feel like now.