Never wrestle with a strong man nor bring a rich man to court.
—Common Proverb
Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
How easy it is to judge rightly after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly!
—Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–65) English Novelist, Short-Story Writer
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
A man has generally the good or ill qualities which he attributes to mankind.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
The judges of normality are present everywhere. We are in the society of the teacher-judge, the doctor-judge, the educator-judge, the “social worker” -judge.
—Michel Foucault (1926–84) French Philosopher, Critic, Historian
If you judge, investigate.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Rabbi Zusya said that on the Day of Judgment, God would ask him, not why he had not been Moses, but why he had not been Zusya.
—Walter Kaufmann (1921–80) German-American Philosopher, Translator
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
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
The most necessary talent in a man of conversation, which is what we ordinarily intend by a gentleman, is a good judgment. He that has this in perfection is master of his companion, without letting him see it; and has the same advantage over men of other qualifications, as one that can see would have over a blind man of ten times his strength.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
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
Men’s judgments are a parcel of their fortunes; and things outward do draw the inward quality after them.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
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
Sound judgment, with discernment, is the best of seers.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
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
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
Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
A hasty judgment is a first step to recantation.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Make no judgments where you have no compassion.
—Anne Mccaffrey (1926–2011) American-Irish Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
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
Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.
—Rita Mae Brown (b.1944) American Writer, Feminist
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
Be curious, not judgmental.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) 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
At twenty years of age the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgment.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A man is not good or bad for one action.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
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
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
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