--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We judge others harshly in order to judge…" description: "\"“We judge others harshly in order to judge ourselves with approval.”\" — Gregory A. Boyd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/gregory-a-boyd-9424_approval_we-judge-others-harshly-in-order-to-judg_2725534.jpg" --- # We judge others harshly in order to judge ourselves with… ![“We judge others harshly in order to judge ourselves with approval.” quote by Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/gregory-a-boyd-9424_approval_we-judge-others-harshly-in-order-to-judg_2725534.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/gregory-a-boyd-9424_approval_we-judge-others-harshly-in-order-to-judg_2725534.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/gregory-a-boyd-9424_approval_we-judge-others-harshly-in-order-to-judg_2725534.jpg) > ““We judge others harshly in order to judge ourselves with approval.”” [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often criticize others to feel better about our own flaws, using external judgment as a self‑esteem boost. **In simple terms:** We judge others to feel better about ourselves. Key Takeaway Recognize this bias and seek self‑acceptance. Themes self‑esteem judgment psychology Mood reflective critical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace feedback - online comments - self‑reflection Key Concepts projection self‑validation Questions to Reflect On - Why do you compare yourself to others? - How can you validate yourself without demeaning others? A Different Perspective It can reinforce negativity and avoid true self‑growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Harshly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harshly-487820/) [Harshly Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harshly-order-2914739/) [Judge Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-approval-2914740/) [Judge Harshly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-harshly-886750/) [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) ## Related quotes > [Do not judge yourself harshly. Without mercy for ourselves we cannot love the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-judge-yourself-harshly-without-mercy-for-ourselves-we-cannot/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“society will judge you rather harshly, my dear.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/society-will-judge-you-rather-harshly-my-dear-she/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [We simply cannot call ourselves Christian and continue to judge one another - or ourselves - so harshly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-l-oscarson/we-simply-cannot-call-ourselves-christian-and-continue-to-judge-one/) [Bonnie L. Oscarson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-l-oscarson/) > [Don't judge anyone harshly until you yourself have been through his experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/don-t-judge-anyone-harshly-until-you-yourself-have-been-through-his/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“When you absolutely need a friend, it might be best not to judge too harshly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-edward-simone/when-you-absolutely-need-a-friend-it-might-be-best-not-to-judge-too/) [Val Edward Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-edward-simone/) > [“When you've got the virgin and the whore sitting next to each other, they're likely to judge each other harshly. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/when-you-ve-got-the-virgin-and-the-whore-sitting-next-to-each-other/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [It has been my experience that the people I judge most harshly are the ones in whom I recognize some part of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/it-has-been-my-experience-that-the-people-i-judge-most-harshly-are/) [Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/) > [History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice tomorrow for today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-who-sacrifice-tomorrow-for-today/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [We judge others harshly because the chances are that we are under judgement ourselves. We become more gracious with others and magnanimous in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/we-judge-others-harshly-because-the-chances-are-that-we-are-under/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [“I'm beneath no man!" she replies harshly. Then, with a mischievous quirk to her mouth, she adds, "At least not without dinner and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/i-m-beneath-no-man-she-replies-harshly-then-with-a-mischievous-quirk/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [I criticize my own work pretty harshly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-blackmore/i-criticize-my-own-work-pretty-harshly/) [Ritchie Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-blackmore/) > [“Never judge yourself so harshly that you never arise from the ashes of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawntel-jefferson/never-judge-yourself-so-harshly-that-you-never-arise-from-the-ashes/) [Shawntel Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawntel-jefferson/) > [I want to be judged harshly because that forces me to really sit down and focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/i-want-to-be-judged-harshly-because-that-forces-me-to-really-sit-down/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [“What you did hurt, Lucas. You wanted me to submit to you just so you could tell me to screw off." I whisper harshly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-snow/what-you-did-hurt-lucas-you-wanted-me-to-submit-to-you-just-so-you/) [Emily Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-snow/) > [I kind of learned that I am way too tough of a critic on myself and that other people are not judging me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-sloane/i-kind-of-learned-that-i-am-way-too-tough-of-a-critic-on-myself-and/) [Lindsay Sloane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-sloane/) ## More by Gregory A. Boyd > [“Consider these questions: Did Jesus ever suggest by word of example that we should aspire to acquire, let alone take over, the power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/consider-these-questions-did-jesus-ever-suggest-by-word-of-example/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God as a radical alternative to all versions of the kingdom of the world, whether they declare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/jesus-came-to-establish-the-kingdom-of-god-as-a-radical-alternative/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“God took on our humanity, our sin, and the just punishment that sin deserves, dying a God-forsaken, hellish death on the cross, because only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/god-took-on-our-humanity-our-sin-and-the-just-punishment-that-sin/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [The holiness of the kingdom of God must be preserved. If Jesus refused to acknowledge and fight for Israel as God's favored nation- even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-holiness-of-the-kingdom-of-god-must-be-preserved-if-jesus-refused/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Coming under others has a power to do what laws and bullets and bombs can never do—namely, bring about transformation in an enemy’s heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/coming-under-others-has-a-power-to-do-what-laws-and-bullets-and-bombs/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Jesus’ life and ministry consistently reveal the humble character of a servant. Though he rightfully owned the entire cosmos, he, by choice, had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/jesus-life-and-ministry-consistently-reveal-the-humble-character-of-a/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“Why would these people do this for us?” This is the question the church ought to be continually raising in people’s minds by its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/why-would-these-people-do-this-for-us-this-is-the-question-the-church/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“The question that wins the world is not, how can we get our “morally superior” way enforced in the world? The question that wins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-question-that-wins-the-world-is-not-how-can-we-get-our-morally/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Accommodation is a central aspect of the cross-centered interpretation of violent portraits of God that I'm advocating. Like everything else in Cross Vision, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/accommodation-is-a-central-aspect-of-the-cross-centered/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Second, if you disbelieve in the reality of good and evil spirit agents, you fundamentally change the narrative of Scripture. The motif of spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/second-if-you-disbelieve-in-the-reality-of-good-and-evil-spirit/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“many people have trouble passionately loving and living for God because they have a mental picture of him that inspires anything but passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/many-people-have-trouble-passionately-loving-and-living-for-god/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“I believe a significant segment of American evangelicalism is guilty of nationalistic and political idolatry. To a frightful degree, I think, evangelicals fuse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/i-believe-a-significant-segment-of-american-evangelicalism-is-guilty/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Our central job is not to solve the world’s problems. Our job is to draw our entire life from Christ and manifest that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/our-central-job-is-not-to-solve-the-world-s-problems-our-job-is-to/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“So too, since Christ has in principle defeated the fallen "gods" (principalities and powers) who have for ages inspired injustice, cruelty and apathy toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/so-too-since-christ-has-in-principle-defeated-the-fallen-gods/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [“the reason God now calls kingdom people to remain separate from the ways of the kingdom-of-the-world is not to isolate them from their culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/the-reason-god-now-calls-kingdom-people-to-remain-separate-from-the/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) [Explore all 73 Gregory A. Boyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We judge others harshly in order to judge ourselves with approval.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gregory A. 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