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It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.

— Joseph Addison Misattributed

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Source and credibility

Joseph Addison very probably did not say this. Wikiquote lists it as misattributed.

Source: François Fénelon, in Selections from the Writings of Fenelon: With an appendix, containing a Memoir of his Life (1829) as translated by A Lady (Eliza Lee Cabot Follen), Letter 37, p. 189.
Source quality: Precise citation Points to a specific work with a page, chapter, date or similar locator, so you can look it up.

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The Fear of Death often proves Mortal, and sets People on Methods to save their Lives, which infallibly destroy them.

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I shall endeavor to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality.

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Music, the greatest good that mortals know,
And all of heaven we have below.

Song for St. Cecilia's Day (1692)

If there's a power above us,
(And that there is all nature cries aloud
Through all her works) he must delight in virtue.

Cato, A Tragedy (1713)

A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty
Is worth a whole eternity in bondage.

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Some virtues are only seen in affliction and some in prosperity.

The Spectator (1711)

Health and cheerfulness mutually beget each other.

The Spectator (1711)

Nature does nothing without purpose or uselessly.

Cato, A Tragedy (1713)

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Character

More quotes by Joseph Addison

Keep up the loud harmonious song,
And imitate the blest above,
In joy, and harmony, and love.

Song for St. Cecilia's Day (1692)

If we may believe our logicians, man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.

The Spectator (1711)

'Tis not in mortals to command success,
But we'll do more, Sempronius; we'll deserve it.

Cato, A Tragedy (1713)

We are growing serious, and,
Let me tell you, that's the very next step to being dull.

The Drummer (1716)

Thus I live in the world rather as a spectator of mankind than as one of the species.

The Spectator (1711)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Joseph Addison (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.