--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's irrational to assume you can ever…" description: "\"It's irrational to assume you can ever truly evaluate yourself as a good or bad human being. You will never have enough information.That \"bad person\" a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/david-d-burns-4607_assuming_it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-t_2815383.png" --- # It's irrational to assume you can ever truly evaluate… ![“It's irrational to assume you can ever truly evaluate yourself as a good or bad human being. You will never have enough information.That "bad person" at work who torments you might be an excellent father to his kids. That other "bad person" at work who screwed up royally today? That error might…” quote by David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/david-d-burns-4607_assuming_it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-t_2815383.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/david-d-burns-4607_assuming_it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-t_2815383.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/david-d-burns-4607_assuming_it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-t_2815383.png) > “It's irrational to assume you can ever truly evaluate yourself as a good or bad human being. You will never have enough information.That "bad person" at work who torments you might be an excellent father to his kids. That other "bad person" at work who screwed up royally today? That error might later lead to a huge breakthrough. We will never have enough info to holistically evaluate a person and score them in totality as "bad" or "good."” [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑evaluation is limited by incomplete information; labeling others as wholly good or bad is unreliable and overlooks complexity. **In simple terms:** We can’t fully judge ourselves or others. Key Takeaway Avoid absolute moral judgments. Themes self‑awareness judgment complexity Mood reflective analytical Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace dynamics - therapy - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias holistic view human complexity Questions to Reflect On - How do you hold nuanced views of people? - What evidence do you need before judging? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can lead to paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Bad person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-person/) [Breakthrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Evaluate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evaluate/) [Evaluate Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evaluate-good-511375/) [Evaluate Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evaluate-person-3550229/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Holistically Evaluate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holistically-evaluate-3550230/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/score/) [Screwed up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screwed-up/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) [Totality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totality/) [Truly Evaluate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-evaluate-3550231/) ## Related quotes > [“Thoughts, quotes, and philosophies—good or bad—cause us to evaluate ourselves. And that is good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/thoughts-quotes-and-philosophies-good-or-bad-cause-us-to-evaluate/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I personally believe a crucial ingredient in rehabilitation is to admit that you completely screwed up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-aitken/i-personally-believe-a-crucial-ingredient-in-rehabilitation-is-to/) [Jonathan Aitken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-aitken/) > [I was once a student in a punk T-Shirt hooked on screwed-up scenarios. That's how I became the esteemed cultural figure that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-was-once-a-student-in-a-punk-t-shirt-hooked-on-screwed-up-scenarios/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [My mom was never afraid to say, 'I'm sorry. I screwed up.' I feel like that's an important lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/my-mom-was-never-afraid-to-say-i-m-sorry-i-screwed-up-i-feel-like/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [I'd like the campaigning to be about all the things they're not going to do. Just tell me what you're not going do! Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-d-like-the-campaigning-to-be-about-all-the-things-they-re-not-going/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [I screwed up. It's all on me. I know that...All these hiccups I have, they must be for a reason. All this is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-screwed-up-it-s-all-on-me-i-know-that-all-these-hiccups-i-have-they/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [You should definitely have a travel agent. Why go through all the hassle of dealing with airlines, hotels, and rental-car agencies yourself, only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-should-definitely-have-a-travel-agent-why-go-through-all-the/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [We're putting all of our energy into making it right. And we have already had several software updates. We've got a huge plan to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/we-re-putting-all-of-our-energy-into-making-it-right-and-we-have/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [If you have had no tension in your life, never been screwed up by problems, your mortality well within your own grasp, and someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-you-have-had-no-tension-in-your-life-never-been-screwed-up-by/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When you are a screwed up person, you have a responsibility to keep your normal friends from getting walked on. 'Cos, how bad could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/when-you-are-a-screwed-up-person-you-have-a-responsibility-to-keep/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [In the strengthening the core job, a leader can draw on their past experiences. After all, in most cases they did the job of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/in-the-strengthening-the-core-job-a-leader-can-draw-on-their-past/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [I guess we all have a bad night now and then and really screw up. I listened to our earlier stuff and we screwed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/i-guess-we-all-have-a-bad-night-now-and-then-and-really-screw-up-i/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [I doubt trees are ever told to 'be the screwed-up ninth-grader.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-doubt-trees-are-ever-told-to-be-the-screwed-up-ninth-grader/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [There's a point in me where it's beyond sad, seeing the state of the world today. It's so screwed up. It's terrible, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/there-s-a-point-in-me-where-it-s-beyond-sad-seeing-the-state-of-the/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [You can almost judge how screwed up somebody is by the kind of toilet paper they use. Go in any rich house and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-almost-judge-how-screwed-up-somebody-is-by-the-kind-of-toilet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by David D. Burns > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“In one sense, depression can feel even worse than cancer, because most cancer patients feel hope as well as self-esteem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/in-one-sense-depression-can-feel-even-worse-than-cancer-because-most/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [More often than not, the belief that you are bad contributes to the "bad" behavior. Change and learning occur most readily when you (a)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/more-often-than-not-the-belief-that-you-are-bad-contributes-to-the/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Guilt is not the best way to remedy your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/guilt-is-not-the-best-way-to-remedy-your-mistakes/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [I had the fear of heights when I was young, along with many other fears and phobias, including the fear of dogs, bees, horses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/i-had-the-fear-of-heights-when-i-was-young-along-with-many-other/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“The attitude that depression is necessary strikes me as destructive, inhuman, and victimizing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-attitude-that-depression-is-necessary-strikes-me-as-destructive/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“know about the brain's hardware and software. How does the firing of a nerve or a series of nerves get translated into a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/know-about-the-brain-s-hardware-and-software-how-does-the-firing-of-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“There was nothing dreadfully wrong with me, I was just upsetting myself with my irrational thinking. I just couldn't admit it until I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/there-was-nothing-dreadfully-wrong-with-me-i-was-just-upsetting/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/aim-for-success-not-perfection-never-give-up-your-right-to-be-wrong/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“And most important, nobody could love or relate to you. It would be impossible to feel any love for someone who was flawless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/and-most-important-nobody-could-love-or-relate-to-you-it-would-be/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Negative thinking patterns can be immensely deceptive and persuasive, and change is rarely easy. But with patience and persistence, I believe that nearly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/negative-thinking-patterns-can-be-immensely-deceptive-and-persuasive/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Many research studies, as well as my own clinical experience, have confirmed that severely depressed patients who appear very "biologically" depressed with lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/many-research-studies-as-well-as-my-own-clinical-experience-have/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/assert-your-right-to-make-a-few-mistakes-if-people-can-t-accept-your/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) [Explore all 108 David D. Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's irrational to assume you can ever truly evaluate yourself as a good or bad human being. You will never have enough information.That \"bad person\" at work who torments you might be an excellent father to his kids. That other \"bad person\" at work who screwed up royally today? That error might later lead to a huge breakthrough. We will never have enough info to holistically evaluate a person and score them in totality as \"bad\" or \"good.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David D. Burns" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-truly-evaluate-yourself-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-truly-evaluate-yourself-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/david-d-burns-4607_assuming_it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-t_2815383.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/david-d-burns-4607_assuming_it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-t_2815383.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c52/david-d-burns-4607_assuming_it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-t_2815383.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's irrational to assume you can ever truly evaluate yourself as a good or bad human being. You will never…” — David D. Burns", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David D. Burns", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's irrational to assume you can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-truly-evaluate-yourself-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/it-s-irrational-to-assume-you-can-ever-truly-evaluate-yourself-as-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```