---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is good discretion not make too much…"
description: "\"It is good discretion not make too much of any man at the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion.\" — Francis Bacon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/francis-bacon-297_discretion_it-is-good-discretion-not-make-too-much_556381.jpg"
---

#  It is good discretion not make too much of any man at the…

![“It is good discretion not make too much of any man at the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion.” quote by Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/francis-bacon-297_discretion_it-is-good-discretion-not-make-too-much_556381.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/francis-bacon-297_discretion_it-is-good-discretion-not-make-too-much_556381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/francis-bacon-297_discretion_it-is-good-discretion-not-make-too-much_556381.jpg)

> “It is good discretion not make too much of any man at the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion.”

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Caution against overestimating others early, as initial impressions can be misleading and expectations unrealistic.

**In simple terms:** Don’t overvalue people before truly knowing them.

Key Takeaway

Assess character over time.

Themes

humility judgment perception wisdom skepticism

Mood

thoughtful cautious analytical

Type

philosophical advice reflective

When to use this quote

- first meetings
- job interviews
- team building
- leadership decisions

Key Concepts

Human nature social dynamics cognitive bias

Questions to Reflect On

- What criteria should guide early judgments?
- How can we avoid premature conclusions?

A Different Perspective

People may change, making early judgments unreliable.

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[Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

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[Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/)

> [We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them out discretion, and so disappears the most immediate breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-lay-aside-letters-never-to-read-them-again-and-at-last-we-destroy/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [“Commonality & Camaraderie. By identifying, developing, and connecting powerful points of reference to others, you will have a rich resource of information from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/commonality-camaraderie-by-identifying-developing-and-connecting/)

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> [ Forgiveness is the best part of valor...Discretion is easy. It's finding the courage to forgive yourself and others that is hard. \[Acheron\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/forgiveness-is-the-best-part-of-valor-discretion-is-easy-it-s-finding/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/)

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Karen A.Miles

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[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/)

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[Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/)

## More by Francis Bacon

> [Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/princes-are-like-heavenly-bodies-which-cause-good-or-evil-times-and/)

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[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [Since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/since-custom-is-the-principal-magistrate-of-man-s-life-let-men-by-all/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

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[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [I usually accept bribes from both sides so that tainted money can never influence my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-usually-accept-bribes-from-both-sides-so-that-tainted-money-can/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/much-bending-breaks-the-bow-much-unbending-the-mind/)

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[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

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[Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/)

> [Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/great-is-our-admiration-of-the-orator-who-speaks-with-fluency-and/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Be not too tame neither, but let your own Discretion be your tutor; suit the action to the word, the word to the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-not-too-tame-neither-but-let-your-own-discretion-be-your-tutor/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [O sir, you are old; nature in you stands on the very verge of her confine; you should be ruled and led by some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-sir-you-are-old-nature-in-you-stands-on-the-very-verge-of-her/)

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> [I have tales to tell, but I don't tell them. Discretion. Discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-peck/i-have-tales-to-tell-but-i-don-t-tell-them-discretion-discretion/)

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> [When you learn to discipline your tongue, you'll stop scrutinizing, judging and condemning others. You'll then focus on your own weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/when-you-learn-to-discipline-your-tongue-you-ll-stop-scrutinizing/)

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