Judgement Quote by Edward Carey
““Another human being, yet another I had never seen before. What did this one know? Was he happy? Was he cruel? Did he worry? The more I stared at his face, the less I understood him. This is not unusual, the same procedure happens whenever I examine a person either on photograph or in reality: in my first glimpses I always think I can read someone fairly quickly, that the snap judgements I make are surely accurate, but the more I observe the less I understand, the more I realize how difficult the art of judging a person is.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin F. Johnson, 1996
First impressions often seem clear, but deeper observation reveals complexity and the limits of quick judgments about people.
In simple terms: Quick judgments are misleading.
Key Takeaway
Look deeper before forming opinions.
Themes
perception
judgment
human nature
complexity
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- meeting new colleagues
- reading a portrait
- online dating
- interviewing candidates
Key Concepts
psychology
social cognition
bias
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- How might you test your initial assumptions?
- What steps can you take to understand someone better?
A Different Perspective
Snap judgments can be influenced by stereotypes and may overlook hidden traits.
![“No wonder that Churchill described this effort [the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than the buzz bombs and the rockets that Werner von Braun designed for a German victory, a weapon absolutely decisive, in the judgement of…” quote by Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c3/peter-hilton-61015_allies_no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this_4600.jpg)
