--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was better not to judge the man who…" description: "\"“It was better not to judge the man who had gone down under an impossible burden. It was better to remember: Thou knowest this man's fall, but thou kno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/james-baldwin-995_thou-knowest_it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-h_3152717.jpg" --- # It was better not to judge the man who had gone down under… ![“It was better not to judge the man who had gone down under an impossible burden. It was better to remember: Thou knowest this man's fall, but thou knowest not his wrassling.” quote by James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/james-baldwin-995_thou-knowest_it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-h_3152717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/james-baldwin-995_thou-knowest_it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-h_3152717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/james-baldwin-995_thou-knowest_it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-h_3152717.jpg) > ““It was better not to judge the man who had gone down under an impossible burden. It was better to remember: Thou knowest this man's fall, but thou knowest not his wrassling.”” [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One should not judge those under impossible burdens, but remember that while we know their fall, we cannot fully grasp their struggle. **In simple terms:** Avoid judgment; empathize with unseen struggles. Key Takeaway Practice empathy over judgment. Themes empathy judgment burden Mood thoughtful empathetic Type ethical reflective When to use this quote - social justice work - personal relationships - conflict resolution - mental health support Key Concepts compassion humility understanding Questions to Reflect On - How can you better understand someone's hidden struggles? - What limits your empathy? A Different Perspective Understanding is limited; we may misinterpret others' pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fall Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-thou-2498913/) [Impossible Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-burden-5666536/) [Man Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-fall-306413/) [Remember Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-thou-1969928/) [Thou Knowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-knowest-277627/) ## Related quotes > [Well, then, Lord Jesus! I will creep if I cannot walk; I will take hold of Thy word. When I stumble, Thou wilt support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-scriver/well-then-lord-jesus-i-will-creep-if-i-cannot-walk-i-will-take-hold/) [Christian Scriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-scriver/) > [“Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me: now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/give-me-my-robe-put-on-my-crown-i-have-immortal-longings-in-me-now-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-witt-talmage/lord-remember-me-when-thou-comest-into-thy-kingdom/) [Thomas De Witt Talmage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-witt-talmage/) > [Remember, that if thou marry for beauty, thou bindest thyself all thy life for that which, perchance, will never last nor please thee one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/remember-that-if-thou-marry-for-beauty-thou-bindest-thyself-all-thy-2/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Remember, that if thou marry for beauty, thou bindest thyself all thy life for that which perchance will neither last nor please thee one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/remember-that-if-thou-marry-for-beauty-thou-bindest-thyself-all-thy/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [“Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-shelley/be-calm-i-entreat-you-to-hear-me-before-you-give-vent-to-your-hatred/) [Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-shelley/) > [“ When I Am Dead, My Dearest When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me; Plant thou no roses at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/when-i-am-dead-my-dearest-when-i-am-dead-my-dearest-sing-no-sad-songs/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me; Plant thou no roses at my head, Nor shady cypress tree: Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/when-i-am-dead-my-dearest-sing-no-sad-songs-for-me-plant-thou-no/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/wink-at-small-faults-remember-thou-hast-great-ones/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Remember, thou canst be brought into no condition, be it ever so severe, where Love has not been before thee and where its tender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/remember-thou-canst-be-brought-into-no-condition-be-it-ever-so-severe/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [“Who am I? They often tell me I would step from my cell's confinement calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-am-i-they-often-tell-me-i-would-step-from-my-cell-s-confinement/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Life, if thou knowest how to use it, is long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/life-if-thou-knowest-how-to-use-it-is-long-enough/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“Thou knowest not what bitches women are," Danny said wisely. "I do know," said Pilon. "Thou knowest not." "I do know." "Liar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/thou-knowest-not-what-bitches-women-are-danny-said-wisely-i-do-know/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius-d-524/thou-knowest-that-these-things-which-i-say-are-true-and-that-i-was/) [Boethius D. 524](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius-d-524/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by James Baldwin > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“The South is very beautiful but its beauty makes one sad because the lives that people live, and have lived here, are so ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/the-south-is-very-beautiful-but-its-beauty-makes-one-sad-because-the/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“All cultures have, furthermore, an economic, social, and political base, and no culture can continue to live if its political destiny is not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/all-cultures-have-furthermore-an-economic-social-and-political-base/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“I remembered that life in that room seemed to be occuring beneath the sea, time flowed past indiffrently above us, hours and days had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/i-remembered-that-life-in-that-room-seemed-to-be-occuring-beneath-the/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“No. It would help if I were able to feel guilty.But the end of innocence is also the end of guilt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/no-it-would-help-if-i-were-able-to-feel-guilty-but-the-end-of/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“Perhaps now, though, he had hit bottom. One thing about the bottom, he told himself, you can't fall any further. He tried to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/perhaps-now-though-he-had-hit-bottom-one-thing-about-the-bottom-he/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“What kind of friendship have you had? Or for that matter...what kind of love affairs?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/what-kind-of-friendship-have-you-had-or-for-that-matter-what-kind-of/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“For these are all our children, we will all profit by or pay for what they become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/for-these-are-all-our-children-we-will-all-profit-by-or-pay-for-what/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“Every society is really governed by hidden laws, by unspoken but profound assumptions on the part of the people, and ours is no exception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/every-society-is-really-governed-by-hidden-laws-by-unspoken-but/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“In those days my mother was given to the exasperating and mysterious habit of having babies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-those-days-my-mother-was-given-to-the-exasperating-and-mysterious/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“He was suggesting that all Negroes were held in a state of supreme tension between the difficult, dangerous relationship in which they stood to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/he-was-suggesting-that-all-negroes-were-held-in-a-state-of-supreme/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“In the beginning—and neither can this be overstated—a Negro just cannot believe that white people are treating him as they do; he does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-the-beginning-and-neither-can-this-be-overstated-a-negro-just/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“If the world wasn't so full of dead folks maybe those of us that's trying to live wouldn't have to suffer so bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/if-the-world-wasn-t-so-full-of-dead-folks-maybe-those-of-us-that-s/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“I am very much concerned that American Negroes achieve their freedom here in the United States. But I am also concerned for their dignity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/i-am-very-much-concerned-that-american-negroes-achieve-their-freedom/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“The paradox—and a fearful paradox it is—is that the American Negro can have no future anywhere, on any continent, as long as he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/the-paradox-and-a-fearful-paradox-it-is-is-that-the-american-negro/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) [Explore all 312 James Baldwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) ## More Thou Knowest quotes > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius-d-524/thou-knowest-that-these-things-which-i-say-are-true-and-that-i-was/) [Boethius D. 524](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius-d-524/) > [“Thou knowest not what bitches women are," Danny said wisely. "I do know," said Pilon. "Thou knowest not." "I do know." "Liar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/thou-knowest-not-what-bitches-women-are-danny-said-wisely-i-do-know/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Life, if thou knowest how to use it, is long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/life-if-thou-knowest-how-to-use-it-is-long-enough/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“Who am I? They often tell me I would step from my cell's confinement calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-am-i-they-often-tell-me-i-would-step-from-my-cell-s-confinement/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Study what thou art Whereof thou art a part What thou knowest of this art This is really what thou art. All that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-drummond/study-what-thou-art-whereof-thou-art-a-part-what-thou-knowest-of-this/) [William Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-drummond/) > [“Thou knowest all; I seek in vain What lands to till or sow with seed - The land is black with briar and weed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/thou-knowest-all-i-seek-in-vain-what-lands-to-till-or-sow-with-seed/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“1. To account nothing of one’s self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even shouldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/1-to-account-nothing-of-one-s-self-and-to-think-always-kindly-and/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Proclaim not all thou knowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Villain I am none. Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/villain-i-am-none-therefore-farewell-i-see-thou-knowest-me-not/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou knowest our needs before they are born in us:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/we-cannot-ask-thee-for-aught-for-thou-knowest-our-needs-before-they/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/proclaim-not-all-thou-knowest-all-thou-owest-all-thou-hast-nor-all/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Lord, if Thou knowest that I shall find, on leaving the house, even through obedience, an occasion of offending Thee, I conjure Thee to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-rodriguez/lord-if-thou-knowest-that-i-shall-find-on-leaving-the-house-even/) [Alphonsus Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-rodriguez/) > [“And if you but listen in the stillness of the night, you shall hear them saying in silence, 'Our God, who art our winged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/and-if-you-but-listen-in-the-stillness-of-the-night-you-shall-hear/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“My soule, poore soule thou talkes of things/ Thou knowest not what, my soule hath sliver wings,/ That mounts me up unto the highest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kyd/my-soule-poore-soule-thou-talkes-of-things-thou-knowest-not-what-my/) [Thomas Kyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kyd/) [Browse all 32 Thou Knowest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-knowest-277627/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was better not to judge the man who had gone down under an impossible burden. It was better to remember: Thou knowest this man's fall, but thou knowest not his wrassling.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Baldwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-had-gone-down-under-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Thou Knowest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-had-gone-down-under-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/james-baldwin-995_thou-knowest_it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-h_3152717.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/james-baldwin-995_thou-knowest_it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-h_3152717.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/james-baldwin-995_thou-knowest_it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-h_3152717.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was better not to judge the man who had gone down under an impossible burden. It was better to remember…” — James Baldwin", "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": "James Baldwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It was better not to judge...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-had-gone-down-under-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/it-was-better-not-to-judge-the-man-who-had-gone-down-under-an/#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 } } ] } ```