---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Occasionally and frequently the exercise…"
description: "\"Occasionally and frequently the exercise of the judgment ought to end in absolute reservation. It may be very distasteful, and great fatigue, to suspen..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/michael-faraday-8792_absolutes_occasionally-and-frequently-the-exercise_2281073.jpg"
---

#  Occasionally and frequently the exercise of the judgment…

![“Occasionally and frequently the exercise of the judgment ought to end in absolute reservation. It may be very distasteful, and great fatigue, to suspend a conclusion; but as we are not infallible, so we ought to be cautious; we shall eventually find our advantage, for the man who rests in his…” quote by Michael Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/michael-faraday-8792_absolutes_occasionally-and-frequently-the-exercise_2281073.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/michael-faraday-8792_absolutes_occasionally-and-frequently-the-exercise_2281073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/michael-faraday-8792_absolutes_occasionally-and-frequently-the-exercise_2281073.jpg)

> “Occasionally and frequently the exercise of the judgment ought to end in absolute reservation. It may be very distasteful, and great fatigue, to suspend a conclusion; but as we are not infallible, so we ought to be cautious; we shall eventually find our advantage, for the man who rests in his position is not so far from right as he who, proceeding in a wrong direction, is ever increasing his distance.”

[Michael Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faraday/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Judgment should often be reserved; caution prevents error, unlike stubborn certainty.

**In simple terms:** Reserve judgment to avoid error.

Key Takeaway

Embrace cautious humility.

Themes

judgment caution error humility

Mood

reflective instructive

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- decision making
- leadership
- research
- personal growth

Key Concepts

critical thinking epistemic humility

Questions to Reflect On

- When is reservation harmful?
- How to balance caution and action?

A Different Perspective

Over‑caution may stall progress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Be cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-cautious/) [Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Distasteful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distasteful/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Exercise Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise-judgment-754326/) [Fatigue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fatigue/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Infallible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallible/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Judgment Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment-ought-5324139/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-cautious-3999012/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Proceeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceeding/) [Reservations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reservations/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Suspend Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspend-conclusion-5324138/) [Wrong direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-direction/)

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## More by Michael Faraday

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