My guiding principle is this: Guilt is never to be doubted.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
Every act is to be judged by the intention of the agent.
—Unknown
Be curious, not judgmental.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Even God doesn’t plan to judge a man till the end of his days, why should you and I?
—Unknown
It is well, when one is judging a friend, to remember that he is judging you with the same godlike and superior impartiality.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist, Playwright, Critic
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
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
What we do not understand we have no right to judge.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
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
Don’t judge men’s wealth or godliness by their Sunday appearance.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Three things you can be judged by, your voice, your face and your disposition.
—Ignaz Bernstein (1836–1909) Russian-Jewish Bibliophile
Organization can never be a substitute for initiative and for judgment.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
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
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
Human nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting situations, that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of being kindly spoken of.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
There’s no need to hang about waiting for the last judgment. It takes place every day.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
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
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
My salad days, when I was green in judgment.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
A right judgment draws us a profit from all things we see.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
To sit in judgment of those things which you perceive to be wrong or imperfect is to be one more person who is part of judgment, evil or imperfection.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
—Ambrose Hollingworth Redmoon (James Neil Hollingworth) (1933–96) American Writer
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 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
Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
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
As the touchstone which tries gold, but is not itself tried by gold, such is he who has the true standard of judgment.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek 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