If you know what a man's doing, get in front of him; but if you want to guess what he's doing keep behind him.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Understanding someone's intent requires proximity, while predicting their future requires distance.
- In plain terms
- Get close to see what someone is doing now, but stay back to see where they are going.
- What can you take from it?
- Position yourself differently depending on whether you need clarity or perspective.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When should you get closer?
- When should you step back?
Another view
Distance can sometimes distort understanding rather than clarify it.
More from Gilbert Keith Chesterton
The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen.
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