Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see, but only a few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are, and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Men of ill judgment often ignore the good that lies within their hands, till they have lost it.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
When you meet a man, you judge him by his clothes; when you leave, you judge him by his heart.
—Russian Proverb
If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgment of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
The seat of knowledge is in the head; of wisdom, in the heart.—We are sure to judge wrong if we do not feel right.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Less judgment than wit, is more sail than ballast. Yet it must be confessed, that wit gives an edge to sense, and recommends it extremely.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
We are ashamed to seem evasive in the presence of a straightforward man, cowardly in the presence of a brave one, gross in the eyes of a refined one, and so on. We always imagine, and in imagining share, the judgments of the other mind.
—Charles Cooley (1864–1929) American Sociologist
Human judgment of human actions is true and void , that is to say, first true and then void…. The judgment of the word is true, the judgment in itself is void…. Only he who is a party can really judge, but as a party he cannot judge. Hence it follows that there is no possibility of judgment in the world, only a glimmer of it.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
A man is not good or bad for one action.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Everyone complains of the badness of his memory, but nobody of his judgment.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
When you judge others,
you do not define them, you define yourself.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
The judgment is like a pair of scales, and evidences like the weights; but the will holds the balances in its hand; and even a slight jerk will be sufficient, in many cases, to make the lighter scale appear the heavier.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
Be curious, not judgmental.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
We do not judge men by what they are in themselves, but by what they are relatively to us.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
The wise determine from the gravity of the case; the irritable, from sensibility to oppression; the high-minded, from disdain and indignation at abusive power in unworthy hands.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Human judgment, like Luther’s drunken peasant, when saved from falling on one side, topples over on the other.
—Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–72) Italian Patriot, Political Leader
When one cannot appraise out of one’s own experience, the temptation to blunder is minimized, but even when one can, appraisal seems chiefly useful as appraisal of the appraiser.
—Marianne Moore (1887–1972) American Poet
You must be what it is that you’re seeking. This is a universe of attraction and energy. You can’t have a desire to attract a mate who’s confident, generous, non-judgmental, and gentle, and expect that desire to be manifested if you’re thinking and acting in nonconfident, selfish, judgmental, or arrogant ways…
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
Men are more apt to be mistaken in their generalizations than in their particular observations.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Don’t judge men’s wealth or godliness by their Sunday appearance.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A flippant, frivolous man may ridicule others, may controvert them, scorn them; but he who has any respect for himself seems to have renounced the right of thinking meanly of others.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
In our judgment of human transactions, the law of optics is reversed; we see the most indistinctly the objects which are close around us.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
All judgment reveals itself to be self-judgment in the end, and when this is understood a larger comprehension of the nature of life takes its place.
—David R. Hawkins (1913–2002) American Philosopher, Academic
While actions are always to be judged by the immutable standard of right and wrong, the judgments we pass upon men must be qualified by considerations of age, country, station, and other accidental circumstances; and it will then be found that he who is most charitable in his judgment is generally the least unjust.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Property may be destroyed and money may lose its purchasing power; but, character, health, knowledge and good judgment will always be in demand under all conditions.
—Roger Babson (1875–1967) American Economist
If you would judge, understand.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in the duties of life; cunning is a kind of instinct, that only looks out after our immediate interests and welfare. Discretion is only found in men of strong sense and good understanding; cunning is often to be met with in brutes themselves, and in persons who are but the fewest removes from them.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Never judge a man by his umbrella. It may not be his.
—Anonymous
Never be a judge between thy friends in any matter where both set their hearts upon the victory. If strangers or enemies be litigants, whatever side thou favorest, thou gettest a friend; but when friends are the parties thou losest one.
—Jeremy Taylor
While I am ready to adopt any well-grounded opinion, my inmost heart revolts against receiving the judgments of others respecting persons, and whenever I have done so, I have bitterly repented of it.
—Barthold G. Niebuhr (1776–1831) Danish-German Statesman, Banker, Historian
In order to judge of the inside of others, study your own; for men in general are very much alike, and though one has one prevailing passion, and another has another, yet their operations are much the same; and whatever engages or disgusts, pleases, or offends you in others will engage, disgust, please or offend others in you.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
In forming a judgment, lay your hearts void of foretaken opinions; else whatsoever is done or said, will be measured by a wrong rule: like them who have the jaundice, to whom everything appeareth yellow.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
If you judge, investigate.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
How little do they see what really is, who frame their hasty judgment upon that which seems.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
A judgment about life has no meaning except the truth of the one who speaks last, and the mind is at ease only at the moment when everyone is shouting at once and no one can hear a thing.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Essayist, Intellectual
Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
A hasty judgment is a first step to recantation.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Sound judgment, with discernment, is the best of seers.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
In judging of others a man laboreth in vain, often erreth, and easily sinneth; but in judging and examining himself he always laboreth fruitfully.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Never judge someone by who he’s in love with; judge him by his friends. People fall in love with the most appalling people. Take a cool, appraising glance at his pals.
—Cynthia Heimel (1947–2018) American Humor Columnist, Feminist
But men never violate the laws of God without suffering the consequences, sooner or later.
—Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer
Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
—Unknown
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
No man can judge another, because no man knows himself, for we censure others but as they disagree from that humor which we fancy laudable in ourselves, and commend others but for that wherein they seem to quadrate and consent with us.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
A right judgment draws us a profit from all things we see.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Every act is to be judged by the intention of the agent.
—Unknown
Foolish men imagine that because judgment for an evil thing is delayed, there is no justice; but only accident here below. Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is sure as life, it is sure as death.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it have any evil in it; but whether it have more of evil, than of good. There are few things wholly evil, or wholly good. Almost everything, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Before the development of tourism, travel was conceived to be like study, and it’s fruits were considered to be the adornment of the mind and the formation of the judgment.
—Paul Fussell (1924–2012) American Literary Scholar, Social Historian