Does anyone bathe in a mighty little time? Don't say that he does it ill, but in a mighty little time. Does anyone drink a great quantity of wine? Don't say that he does ill, but that he drinks a great quantity. For, unless you perfectly understand the principle from which anyone acts, how should you know if he acts ill? Thus you will not run the hazard of assenting to any appearances but such as you fully comprehend. (45)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Do not judge actions as good or bad without fully understanding the underlying principle.
- In plain terms
- Only judge what you truly comprehend.
- What can you take from it?
- Seek deep understanding before forming judgments.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When have I judged too quickly?
- What steps can I take to understand before judging?
Another view
Complete understanding is often impossible, leading to delayed decisions.
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