--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot judge what should bring others…" description: "\"You cannot judge what should bring others joy, and others cannot judge what should bring you joy.\" — Alan Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/alan-cohen-1112_bring_you-cannot-judge-what-should-bring-other_3021935.png" --- # You cannot judge what should bring others joy, and others… ![“You cannot judge what should bring others joy, and others cannot judge what should bring you joy.” quote by Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/alan-cohen-1112_bring_you-cannot-judge-what-should-bring-other_3021935.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/alan-cohen-1112_bring_you-cannot-judge-what-should-bring-other_3021935.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/alan-cohen-1112_bring_you-cannot-judge-what-should-bring-other_3021935.png) > “You cannot judge what should bring others joy, and others cannot judge what should bring you joy.” [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Joy is subjective; individuals should not judge others’ sources of happiness, nor let others dictate theirs. **In simple terms:** Joy is personal and cannot be judged. Key Takeaway Respect others’ sources of joy and protect your own. Themes joy subjectivity respect personal freedom empathy Mood thoughtful empathetic ethical Type philosophical social reflective When to use this quote - friendship - family dynamics - social media interactions - cultural exchanges Key Concepts ethical relativism psychology of happiness individual autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How do you define healthy joy? - When is it okay to challenge someone’s joy? A Different Perspective The statement may overlook harmful impacts of certain “joys.” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring/) [Bring Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-joy/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-judge-4895574/) [Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge/) [Judge Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-bring-4719287/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [I respect people who feel things passionately. I do. 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Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Only the free and personal man is a good citizen (realist), and even with the lack of particular (scholarly, artistic, etc)culture, a tasteful judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/only-the-free-and-personal-man-is-a-good-citizen-realist-and-even/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [I kind of learned that I am way too tough of a critic on myself and that other people are not judging me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-sloane/i-kind-of-learned-that-i-am-way-too-tough-of-a-critic-on-myself-and/) [Lindsay Sloane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-sloane/) > [I am the worst judge of my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-banville/i-am-the-worst-judge-of-my-books/) [John Banville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-banville/) > [Conscience warns us as a friend before it punishes us as a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/conscience-warns-us-as-a-friend-before-it-punishes-us-as-a-judge/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [I judge people by their own principles..not by my own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-judge-people-by-their-own-principles-not-by-my-own/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. 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Thank God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/you-cannot-be-other-than-you-are-thank-god/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Evaluate every act by whether it brings you greater life, or deadens you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/evaluate-every-act-by-whether-it-brings-you-greater-life-or-deadens/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Put aside ambition for public recognition, and simply do what you do because it feels good inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/put-aside-ambition-for-public-recognition-and-simply-do-what-you-do/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“When you finally give up striving, you will be left with what you have been striving for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-finally-give-up-striving-you-will-be-left-with-what-you-have/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“newspaper ads for lost pets and earthquakes that soon follow. 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