Adapting Quote by Alfred Binet
“It seems to us that in intelligence there is a fundamental faculty, the alteration or the lack of which, is of the utmost importance for practical life. This faculty is judgment, otherwise called good sense, practical sense, initiative, the faculty of adapting one's self to circumstances. A person may be a moron or an imbecile if he is lacking in judgment; but with good judgment he can never be either. Indeed the rest of the intellectual faculties seem of little importance in comparison with judgment”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Psychology of the Child, Alfred Binet, 1903
Judgment, or practical sense, is the key mental faculty that lets people adapt to situations; other intellects matter less without it.
In simple terms: Good judgment is the most important mental skill for life.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate practical judgment.
Themes
adaptation
practicality
intelligence
decision‑making
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
inspirational
Type
advice
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- education
- career planning
- daily problem solving
- leadership
- personal development
Key Concepts
cognitive psychology
executive function
heuristics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you improve your practical judgment?
- When does intuition outweigh analysis?
A Different Perspective
Judgment alone cannot compensate for lack of knowledge or ethical values.
![“I wish that one would be persuaded that psychological experiments, especially those on the complex functions, are not improved [by large studies]; the statistical method gives only mediocre results; some recent examples demonstrate that. The American authors, who love to do things big, often…” quote by Alfred Binet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8cd/alfred-binet-37082_american-author_i-wish-that-one-would-be-persuaded-that_712063.jpg)
