--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of us are referees at heart; we like…" description: "\"Most of us are referees at heart; we like to call throws and errors on someone else.\" — John Kessel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/john-kessel-11460_errors_most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like_1148389.png" --- # Most of us are referees at heart; we like to call throws… ![“Most of us are referees at heart; we like to call throws and errors on someone else.” quote by John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/john-kessel-11460_errors_most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like_1148389.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/john-kessel-11460_errors_most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like_1148389.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/john-kessel-11460_errors_most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like_1148389.png) > “Most of us are referees at heart; we like to call throws and errors on someone else.” [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People instinctively judge others, focusing on faults rather than their own. **In simple terms:** We tend to criticize others instead of self‑examining. Key Takeaway Practice self‑awareness before judging. Themes judgment self‑awareness human nature criticism Mood introspective critical Type advice observational When to use this quote - teamwork - conflict resolution - personal development Key Concepts cognitive bias projection empathy Questions to Reflect On - When have you judged others unfairly? - How can you shift focus inward? A Different Perspective Constant criticism can damage relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Like Throws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-throws-3234841/) [Referee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referee/) [Referees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referees/) [Referees Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referees-heart-3234840/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Throws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throws/) [Throws Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throws-errors-3234842/) ## Related quotes > [I did think there were one or two referees who had a personal thing against me. It wasn't them versus Celtic - it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-strachan/i-did-think-there-were-one-or-two-referees-who-had-a-personal-thing/) [Gordon Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-strachan/) > [Referees are only human, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-kearns/referees-are-only-human-i-think/) [Phil Kearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-kearns/) > [Referees don't come down here with a particular flavoured shirt on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coppell/referees-don-t-come-down-here-with-a-particular-flavoured-shirt-on/) [Steve Coppell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coppell/) > [I get told off by my mum for being a bit rough on the pitch. I'm in the referee's ear a lot - referees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-toney/i-get-told-off-by-my-mum-for-being-a-bit-rough-on-the-pitch-i-m-in/) [Ivan Toney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-toney/) > [Referees and linesmen are killing teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/referees-and-linesmen-are-killing-teams/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [Fifteen referees. I want fifteen referees to be at this fight because there ain't no one man who can keep up with the pace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/fifteen-referees-i-want-fifteen-referees-to-be-at-this-fight-because/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I don't understand referees. It appears like some players can't even be touched, but in my case, everyone can hit me as hard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiano-ronaldo/i-don-t-understand-referees-it-appears-like-some-players-can-t-even/) [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiano-ronaldo/) > [We all believe we have found the finest of diktat that applies our perfect future, but do we believe the world needs referees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-hess/we-all-believe-we-have-found-the-finest-of-diktat-that-applies-our/) [Rudolf Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-hess/) > [Don't you think it's strange how many referees work at Footlocker?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/don-t-you-think-it-s-strange-how-many-referees-work-at-footlocker/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Even as they are now pointing to God and praising God for that victory, something terrible happens; there's a demonic spirit now that referees,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-klingenschmitt/even-as-they-are-now-pointing-to-god-and-praising-god-for-that/) [Gordon Klingenschmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-klingenschmitt/) > [Referees need help. Players are getting faster and fitter and too many referees are making decisions from behind the play. They see a tangle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-townsend/referees-need-help-players-are-getting-faster-and-fitter-and-too-many/) [Andy Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-townsend/) > [I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-atkinson/i-never-comment-on-referees-and-i-m-not-going-to-break-the-habit-of-a/) [Ron Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-atkinson/) > [I want fifteen referees at this fight…because there ain’t no one man who can keep up with the pace I’m gonna set except me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-want-fifteen-referees-at-this-fight-because-there-ain-t-no-one-man/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [It's a game of integrity. There's no referees out there. We all respect each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-spieth/it-s-a-game-of-integrity-there-s-no-referees-out-there-we-all-respect/) [Jordan Spieth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-spieth/) > [Referees are the law. They have a whistle. They blow it. And that whistle is the articulation of God's justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/referees-are-the-law-they-have-a-whistle-they-blow-it-and-that/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) ## More by John Kessel > [Don't ask yourself what you did wrong; ask yourself what you did right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/don-t-ask-yourself-what-you-did-wrong-ask-yourself-what-you-did-right/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Never mishandle hope or self-confidence - those are elements of life, not just a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/never-mishandle-hope-or-self-confidence-those-are-elements-of-life/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Study hard, practice hard, play ferociously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/study-hard-practice-hard-play-ferociously/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Shared victory is a double victory, shared defeat is half-defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/shared-victory-is-a-double-victory-shared-defeat-is-half-defeat/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [The pessimistic coach complains about the play. The optimistic coach expects it to change. The realistic coach adjusts what he can control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/the-pessimistic-coach-complains-about-the-play-the-optimistic-coach/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [You have to learn every day. You can't be playing every day, but you can be practicing. If you cannot be practicing with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/you-have-to-learn-every-day-you-can-t-be-playing-every-day-but-you/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [There are three choices in life and sport - either you do it, you don't do it or you think about it. Most humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/there-are-three-choices-in-life-and-sport-either-you-do-it-you-don-t/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [You must allow your players to become the athletes they can be. Don't make them into anything just to become the kind of winners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/you-must-allow-your-players-to-become-the-athletes-they-can-be-don-t/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Use volleyball quotes to motivate your teammates to play hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/use-volleyball-quotes-to-motivate-your-teammates-to-play-hard/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Being left-handed has its advantages in volleyball. Few people know enough about your spike and serve to give you advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/being-left-handed-has-its-advantages-in-volleyball-few-people-know/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Make your mistakes with confidence. It is the only way you are going to learn anything. Never be afraid to do a skill, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/make-your-mistakes-with-confidence-it-is-the-only-way-you-are-going/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [The meaning of volleyball, is to give meaning to volleyball, as the meaning of coaching is to give meaning to coaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/the-meaning-of-volleyball-is-to-give-meaning-to-volleyball-as-the/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [Coaching is something that takes place only when learning does. No matter what you are doing in your practices, if your players are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/coaching-is-something-that-takes-place-only-when-learning-does-no/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [I am here to give my players the little push they need, just like they needed long ago, when first learning the art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/i-am-here-to-give-my-players-the-little-push-they-need-just-like-they/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [It's hard for these athletes to stay healthy. They are constantly being bombarded with unhealthy advertising. Peer pressure can override the body's demand for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/it-s-hard-for-these-athletes-to-stay-healthy-they-are-constantly/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) [Explore all 59 John Kessel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) ## More Errors quotes > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“I saw the errors I had made and assumed full responsibility for everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-saw-the-errors-i-had-made-and-assumed-full-responsibility-for/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Truth is error burned up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-o-brown/truth-is-error-burned-up/) [Norman O. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-o-brown/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [It is often sadly remarked that the bad economists present their errors to the public better than the good economists present their truths. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/it-is-often-sadly-remarked-that-the-bad-economists-present-their/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Developing fewer features allows you to conserve development resources and spend more time refining those features that users really need. Fewer features mean fewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/developing-fewer-features-allows-you-to-conserve-development/) [Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/) > [Tachyon OPC+ is a natural extension of our market-winning Tachyon platform, giving customers a clear path to minimizing the OPC error budget and producing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/tachyon-opc-is-a-natural-extension-of-our-market-winning-tachyon/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [It is not to everyone's taste that truth should be pronounced pleasant. But at least let no one believe that error becomes truth when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-not-to-everyone-s-taste-that-truth-should-be-pronounced/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [To avoid being drawn into error, keep a firm grip on the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/to-avoid-being-drawn-into-error-keep-a-firm-grip-on-the-truth/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Over immense periods of time the intellect produced nothing but errors. A few of these proved to be useful and helped to preserve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/over-immense-periods-of-time-the-intellect-produced-nothing-but/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [But to me all sciences seem vain and full of error that are not born of experience, mother of all certainty, and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/but-to-me-all-sciences-seem-vain-and-full-of-error-that-are-not-born/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) [Browse all 2,404 Errors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most of us are referees at heart; we like to call throws and errors on someone else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Kessel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like-to-call-throws-and-errors-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Errors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like-to-call-throws-and-errors-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/john-kessel-11460_errors_most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like_1148389.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/john-kessel-11460_errors_most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like_1148389.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/john-kessel-11460_errors_most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like_1148389.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most of us are referees at heart; we like to call throws and errors on someone else.” — John Kessel", "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 Kessel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most of us are referees at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like-to-call-throws-and-errors-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/most-of-us-are-referees-at-heart-we-like-to-call-throws-and-errors-on/#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 } } ] } ```