Country Quote by Andre Gide
“In order to judge properly, one must get away somewhat from what one is judging, after having loved it. This is true of countries, of persons, and of oneself.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Autumn Leaves by André Gide, 1950
To judge fairly, one must distance oneself from the subject after loving it, applying the same to nations, people, and self.
In simple terms: Step back after love to judge impartially.
Key Takeaway
Practice detached empathy when evaluating.
Themes
judgment
love
objectivity
self-awareness
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Legal judgments
- art criticism
- personal reflection
- political analysis
Key Concepts
Ethical reasoning
psychological distance
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does love affect your objectivity?
- Can you ever fully separate feeling from judgment?
A Different Perspective
Emotional detachment can be difficult to achieve.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
