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
When you meet a man, you judge him by his clothes; when you leave, you judge him by his heart.
—Russian Proverb
It is no little wisdom for a man to keep himself in silence and in good peace when evil words are spoken to him, and to turn his heart to God and not to be troubled with man’s judgment.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
A Judge may be a farmer; but he is not to geld his own pigs. A Judge may play a little at cards for his own amusement; but he is not to play at marbles, or chuck farthing in the Piazza.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Everyone complains of the badness of his memory, but nobody of his judgment.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
It is a maxim received in life that, in general, we can determine more wisely for others than for ourselves. The reason of it is so clear in argument that it hardly wants the confirming of experience.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
A man has generally the good or ill qualities which he attributes to mankind.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
If you would judge, understand.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Even God doesn’t plan to judge a man till the end of his days, why should you and I?
—Unknown
Better a living dog than a dead lion.
—Common Proverb
Never wrestle with a strong man nor bring a rich man to court.
—Common Proverb
A right judgment draws us a profit from all things we see.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Do not judge, and you will never be mistaken.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who venture to criticize us perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to undertake to wound or offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
We are firm believers in the maxim that for all right judgment of any man or thing it is useful, nay, essential, to see his good qualities before pronouncing on his bad.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Organization can never be a substitute for initiative and for judgment.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
Be wiser than other people if you can, but do not tell them so.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Perish discretion when it interferes with duty.
—Hannah More
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
As you inquire into issues and turn judgments around, you come to see that every perceived problem appearing “out there” is really nothing more than a misperception within your own thinking.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
It is with our judgments as with our watches: no two go just alike, yet each believes his own.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
There are some minds like either convex or concave mirrors, which represent objects such as they receive them, but they never receive them as they are.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
I shall tell you a great secret my friend. Do not wait for the last judgment, it takes place every day.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Great Spirit, help me never to judge another until I have walked in his moccasins.
—American Indian Proverb
Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure you—it would make life easier. But discretion is, unfortunately, not for novelists.
—Philip Roth (1933–2018) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
How little do they see what really is, who frame their hasty judgment upon that which seems.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
We find it hard to apply the knowledge of ourselves to our judgment of others. The fact that we are never of one kind, that we never love without reservations and never hate with all our being cannot prevent us from seeing others as wholly black or white.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
The contemporary mind may in rare cases be taken by storm; but posterity never. The tribunal of the present is accessible to influence; that of the future is incorrupt.
—William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98) English Liberal Statesman, Prime Minister
Don’t judge men’s wealth or godliness by their Sunday appearance.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
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
A man is not good or bad for one action.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
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
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
God alone can judge.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Don’t mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.
—Henry James (1843–1916) American-born British Novelist, Writer
Judgment is forced upon us by experience.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Let us remember, when we are inclined to be disheartened, that the private soldier is a poor judge of the fortunes of a great battle.
—William Motter Inge (1913–73) American Playwright, Novelist
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
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
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
Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words or in good order.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person’s enemies say about him.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer