--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A philosopher ... is not fairly judged by…" description: "\"A philosopher ... is not fairly judged by his eccentricities, nor by the frailties to which he is liable; still less should his philosophy as a whole f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/john-grier-hibben-60653_devotee_a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-hi_1598522.jpg" --- # A philosopher ... is not fairly judged by his… ![“A philosopher ... is not fairly judged by his eccentricities, nor by the frailties to which he is liable; still less should his philosophy as a whole fall into ill-repute because of those among its devotees who have stumbled into wells, or who aimlessly pass their lives in whetting their faculties…” quote by John Grier Hibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/john-grier-hibben-60653_devotee_a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-hi_1598522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/john-grier-hibben-60653_devotee_a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-hi_1598522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/john-grier-hibben-60653_devotee_a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-hi_1598522.jpg) > “A philosopher ... is not fairly judged by his eccentricities, nor by the frailties to which he is liable; still less should his philosophy as a whole fall into ill-repute because of those among its devotees who have stumbled into wells, or who aimlessly pass their lives in whetting their faculties and then neglecting to use them.” [John Grier Hibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grier-hibben/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judging a philosopher by his flaws or the mistakes of followers misrepresents his overall work. **In simple terms:** Don't judge a thinker by eccentricities or followers' errors. Key Takeaway Assess ideas, not peripheral flaws. Themes philosophy fairness evaluation Mood thoughtful analytical Type critical reflective When to use this quote - academic discourse - public debates - teaching philosophy Key Concepts critical thinking intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - How can we separate a philosopher's core ideas from peripheral issues? - What criteria ensure fair evaluation of intellectual work? A Different Perspective Misinterpretations can arise from selective focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devotee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotee/) [Eccentricities Frailties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eccentricities-frailties-6073857/) [Eccentricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eccentricity/) [Faculties Neglecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faculties-neglecting-6073858/) [Faculty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faculty/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Frailty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frailty/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Judged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judged/) [Liable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liable/) [Liable Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liable-philosophy-6073856/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosopher Fairly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher-fairly-6073855/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [The wonderful structure of the animal system will probably never permit us to look upon it as a merely physical apparatus, yet the demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gorrie/the-wonderful-structure-of-the-animal-system-will-probably-never/) [John Gorrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gorrie/) > [A devotee has no agenda of his own. For him, the object of devotion is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/a-devotee-has-no-agenda-of-his-own-for-him-the-object-of-devotion-is/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [“उद्यत्भानुसहस्राभा चतुर्बाहुसमन्विता रागस्वरूपपाशाढ्या क्रोधाकाराङ्कुशोज्ज्वला ॥२ Udyath-bhaanu-sahara-aabhaa Chatu-r-baahu-sama-anwithaa Raga-swa-roopa-paasha-aadhya Kroedha-aakaara-angusha-o-ujjwalaa 2. Who enlightens and destroys evil of devotee, With four arms in all directions destroys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munindra-misra/udyath-bhaanu-sahara-aabhaa-chatu-r-baahu-sama-anwithaa-raga-swa/) [Munindra Misra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munindra-misra/) > [What good is a cow that neither gives milk nor conceives? Similarly, what is the value of the birth of a son if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/what-good-is-a-cow-that-neither-gives-milk-nor-conceives-similarly/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [I have come to light the lamp of Love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/i-have-come-to-light-the-lamp-of-love-in-your-hearts-to-see-that-it/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [As for me, I consider myself as a speck of the dust of the devotee's feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/as-for-me-i-consider-myself-as-a-speck-of-the-dust-of-the-devotee-s/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Ramanama can be used only for a good, never for an evil end, or else thieves and robbers would be the greatest devotees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/ramanama-can-be-used-only-for-a-good-never-for-an-evil-end-or-else/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Devotees are not impressed by the poverty or wealth in material sense in any way; what impresses is devotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/devotees-are-not-impressed-by-the-poverty-or-wealth-in-material-sense/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [The ability to handle stress increases with the practice of meditation. In a culture like ours in which inner, spiritual growth is totally neglected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-ability-to-handle-stress-increases-with-the-practice-of/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Krishna is God, and by chanting His Holy Names, the devotee quickly develops God-consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/krishna-is-god-and-by-chanting-his-holy-names-the-devotee-quickly/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [My doctrine means that I must identify myself with life, with everything that lives, that I must share the majesty of life in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-doctrine-means-that-i-must-identify-myself-with-life-with/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The perfect mystic is not an ecstatic devotee lost in contemplation of Oneness, nor a saintly recluse shunning all commerce with mankind, but "the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-sa-id-abul-khayr/the-perfect-mystic-is-not-an-ecstatic-devotee-lost-in-contemplation/) [Abu-Sa'id Abul-Khayr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-sa-id-abul-khayr/) > [Even virtue is an art; and even its devotees are divided into those who practise it and those who are merely amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/even-virtue-is-an-art-and-even-its-devotees-are-divided-into-those/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [Indian spirituality, proclaimed that the true Godhead was beyond number and count; that it had many manifestations which did not exclude or repel each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-swarup/indian-spirituality-proclaimed-that-the-true-godhead-was-beyond/) [Ram Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-swarup/) > [Devotion as an act is vulgar. Devotion as a way of life is wonderful. If you are a great devotee, it is ugly. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/devotion-as-an-act-is-vulgar-devotion-as-a-way-of-life-is-wonderful/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) ## More by John Grier Hibben > [Man becomes virtually an automaton in the loss of his individuality and responsibility. He is the harp of a thousand strings played upon by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grier-hibben/man-becomes-virtually-an-automaton-in-the-loss-of-his-individuality/) [John Grier Hibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grier-hibben/) > [There may be a soul of the world, there may be ... a psychical side, of which we are not aware, to every atom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grier-hibben/there-may-be-a-soul-of-the-world-there-may-be-a-psychical-side-of/) [John Grier Hibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grier-hibben/) > [I cannot bear to think that our young men are merely living four years in a country club and spending their lives wholly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grier-hibben/i-cannot-bear-to-think-that-our-young-men-are-merely-living-four/) [John Grier Hibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grier-hibben/) > [What is reality? Is it not merely a term for the philosopher to conjure with, behind which he may craftily conceal his ignorance?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grier-hibben/what-is-reality-is-it-not-merely-a-term-for-the-philosopher-to/) [John Grier Hibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grier-hibben/) [Explore all 5 John Grier Hibben quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grier-hibben/) ## More Devotee quotes > [The wonderful structure of the animal system will probably never permit us to look upon it as a merely physical apparatus, yet the demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gorrie/the-wonderful-structure-of-the-animal-system-will-probably-never/) [John Gorrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gorrie/) > [Indian spirituality, proclaimed that the true Godhead was beyond number and count; that it had many manifestations which did not exclude or repel each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-swarup/indian-spirituality-proclaimed-that-the-true-godhead-was-beyond/) [Ram Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-swarup/) > [Even virtue is an art; and even its devotees are divided into those who practise it and those who are merely amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/even-virtue-is-an-art-and-even-its-devotees-are-divided-into-those/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [The perfect mystic is not an ecstatic devotee lost in contemplation of Oneness, nor a saintly recluse shunning all commerce with mankind, but "the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-sa-id-abul-khayr/the-perfect-mystic-is-not-an-ecstatic-devotee-lost-in-contemplation/) [Abu-Sa'id Abul-Khayr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-sa-id-abul-khayr/) > [My doctrine means that I must identify myself with life, with everything that lives, that I must share the majesty of life in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-doctrine-means-that-i-must-identify-myself-with-life-with/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Krishna is God, and by chanting His Holy Names, the devotee quickly develops God-consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/krishna-is-god-and-by-chanting-his-holy-names-the-devotee-quickly/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [The ability to handle stress increases with the practice of meditation. In a culture like ours in which inner, spiritual growth is totally neglected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-ability-to-handle-stress-increases-with-the-practice-of/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Devotees are not impressed by the poverty or wealth in material sense in any way; what impresses is devotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/devotees-are-not-impressed-by-the-poverty-or-wealth-in-material-sense/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Ramanama can be used only for a good, never for an evil end, or else thieves and robbers would be the greatest devotees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/ramanama-can-be-used-only-for-a-good-never-for-an-evil-end-or-else/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [As for me, I consider myself as a speck of the dust of the devotee's feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/as-for-me-i-consider-myself-as-a-speck-of-the-dust-of-the-devotee-s/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [I have come to light the lamp of Love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/i-have-come-to-light-the-lamp-of-love-in-your-hearts-to-see-that-it/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [What good is a cow that neither gives milk nor conceives? Similarly, what is the value of the birth of a son if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/what-good-is-a-cow-that-neither-gives-milk-nor-conceives-similarly/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [“उद्यत्भानुसहस्राभा चतुर्बाहुसमन्विता रागस्वरूपपाशाढ्या क्रोधाकाराङ्कुशोज्ज्वला ॥२ Udyath-bhaanu-sahara-aabhaa Chatu-r-baahu-sama-anwithaa Raga-swa-roopa-paasha-aadhya Kroedha-aakaara-angusha-o-ujjwalaa 2. Who enlightens and destroys evil of devotee, With four arms in all directions destroys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munindra-misra/udyath-bhaanu-sahara-aabhaa-chatu-r-baahu-sama-anwithaa-raga-swa/) [Munindra Misra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munindra-misra/) > [A devotee has no agenda of his own. For him, the object of devotion is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/a-devotee-has-no-agenda-of-his-own-for-him-the-object-of-devotion-is/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Devotion as an act is vulgar. Devotion as a way of life is wonderful. If you are a great devotee, it is ugly. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/devotion-as-an-act-is-vulgar-devotion-as-a-way-of-life-is-wonderful/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) [Browse all 123 Devotee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotee/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A philosopher ... is not fairly judged by his eccentricities, nor by the frailties to which he is liable; still less should his philosophy as a whole fall into ill-repute because of those among its devotees who have stumbled into wells, or who aimlessly pass their lives in whetting their faculties and then neglecting to use them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Grier Hibben" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grier-hibben/a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-his-eccentricities-nor-by-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Devotee" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grier-hibben/a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-his-eccentricities-nor-by-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/john-grier-hibben-60653_devotee_a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-hi_1598522.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/john-grier-hibben-60653_devotee_a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-hi_1598522.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/459/john-grier-hibben-60653_devotee_a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-hi_1598522.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A philosopher ... is not fairly judged by his eccentricities, nor by the frailties to which he is liable…” — John Grier Hibben", "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": "John Grier Hibben", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grier-hibben/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A philosopher ... is not fairly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grier-hibben/a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-his-eccentricities-nor-by-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grier-hibben/a-philosopher-is-not-fairly-judged-by-his-eccentricities-nor-by-the/#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 } } ] } ```