--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is more apt to deceive us than…" description: "\"Nothing is more apt to deceive us than our own judgment of our work. We derive more benefit from having our faults pointed out by our enemies than from..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/leonardo-da-vinci-330_benefits_nothing-is-more-apt-to-deceive-us-than-o_1270609.jpg" --- # Nothing is more apt to deceive us than our own judgment of… ![“Nothing is more apt to deceive us than our own judgment of our work. We derive more benefit from having our faults pointed out by our enemies than from hearing the opinions of friends.” quote by Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/leonardo-da-vinci-330_benefits_nothing-is-more-apt-to-deceive-us-than-o_1270609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/leonardo-da-vinci-330_benefits_nothing-is-more-apt-to-deceive-us-than-o_1270609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/leonardo-da-vinci-330_benefits_nothing-is-more-apt-to-deceive-us-than-o_1270609.jpg) > “Nothing is more apt to deceive us than our own judgment of our work. We derive more benefit from having our faults pointed out by our enemies than from hearing the opinions of friends.” [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our own assessment of work is often flawed; criticism from opponents can be more revealing than praise from friends. **In simple terms:** Self‑judgment is unreliable; enemies may reveal truth. Key Takeaway Seek honest critique, even from rivals. Themes self‑awareness criticism growth Mood reflective curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - performance reviews - creative projects - academic research Key Concepts cognitive bias feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate constructive criticism? - Who can you trust for honest feedback? A Different Perspective Friends may offer biased support, not objective truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) ## Related quotes > [People who are for diversity of thought, actually, are okay with hearing some opinions that they don't like. I quite literally see none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/people-who-are-for-diversity-of-thought-actually-are-okay-with/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [We should always keep a corner of our heads open and free, that we may make room for the opinions of our friends. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/we-should-always-keep-a-corner-of-our-heads-open-and-free-that-we-may/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [What skills I lacked in, say, math or science, I like to think I made up for in my ability to read people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/what-skills-i-lacked-in-say-math-or-science-i-like-to-think-i-made-up/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [Our senses don't deceive us: our judgment does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-senses-don-t-deceive-us-our-judgment-does/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The senses do not deceive us, but the judgment does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-senses-do-not-deceive-us-but-the-judgment-does/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I do not believe they are right who say that the defects of famous men should be ignored. I think it is better that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-believe-they-are-right-who-say-that-the-defects-of-famous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“we can’t stand other people having the same faults as ourselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-can-t-stand-other-people-having-the-same-faults-as-ourselves/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Our Lord wanted us to be Christ-like. Christ-like doesn't mean not having faults. 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I suppose it comes from the fact that none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/my-dear-fellow-i-am-not-quite-serious-but-i-can-t-help-detesting-my/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Leonardo da Vinci > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-painter-should-begin-every-canvas-with-a-wash-of-black-because-all/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Nothing can be love or hated unless it is first known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/nothing-can-be-love-or-hated-unless-it-is-first-known/) [Leonardo Da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [An arch consists of two weaknesses which, leaning one against the other, make a strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/an-arch-consists-of-two-weaknesses-which-leaning-one-against-the/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [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/) > [“Time stays long enough for those who use it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/time-stays-long-enough-for-those-who-use-it/) [Leonardo Da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Be a mirror, absorb everything around you and still remain the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/be-a-mirror-absorb-everything-around-you-and-still-remain-the-same/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Your brain is much better than you think; 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