--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we judge others, we judge ourselves…" description: "\"“When we judge others, we judge ourselves through comparison. We go backward on the ladder, which means we are going down.”\" — Mihail Militaru" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/mihail-militaru-24541_backward_when-we-judge-others-we-judge-ourselves_240712.jpg" --- # When we judge others, we judge ourselves through… ![“When we judge others, we judge ourselves through comparison. We go backward on the ladder, which means we are going down.” quote by Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/mihail-militaru-24541_backward_when-we-judge-others-we-judge-ourselves_240712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/mihail-militaru-24541_backward_when-we-judge-others-we-judge-ourselves_240712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/mihail-militaru-24541_backward_when-we-judge-others-we-judge-ourselves_240712.jpg) > ““When we judge others, we judge ourselves through comparison. We go backward on the ladder, which means we are going down.”” [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judging others reflects our own insecurities, causing us to feel inferior and regress. **In simple terms:** Comparing to others reveals our own flaws. Key Takeaway Recognize self‑judgment and focus on personal growth. Themes self‑awareness comparison humility Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - social interactions - performance reviews - team dynamics Key Concepts psychology self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How does judging others affect your self‑image? - What steps can you take to stop comparing? A Different Perspective Self‑judgment can lead to negative self‑esteem if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) ## Related quotes > [If it is surely the means to the highest end we know, can any work be humble or disgusting? Will it not rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-it-is-surely-the-means-to-the-highest-end-we-know-can-any-work-be/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When you take a step on the ladder to success, you don't want to take a step backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/when-you-take-a-step-on-the-ladder-to-success-you-don-t-want-to-take/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [I loved you backward and forward in time. I loved you beyond boundaries of time and space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-loved-you-backward-and-forward-in-time-i-loved-you-beyond/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!I am so weary of toil and of tears,-Toil without recompense, tears all in vain!Take them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chase-allen/backward-flow-backward-o-tide-of-the-years-i-am-so-weary-of-toil-and/) [Elizabeth Chase Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chase-allen/) > [This was the Darker Life, where every truth was written backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/this-was-the-darker-life-where-every-truth-was-written-backward/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Us ballplayers do things backward. First we play, then we retire and go to work. —CHARLIE GEHRINGER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-wilde/us-ballplayers-do-things-backward-first-we-play-then-we-retire-and-go-2/) [Lori Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-wilde/) > [“Dreaming her way backward in time, resurrecting images, the young girl realized, with wonder, that the absent are always present, that you don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-shields/dreaming-her-way-backward-in-time-resurrecting-images-the-young-girl/) [Carol Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-shields/) > [The thing I love most about my job is watching people age backward, becoming more lively and energetic as they free themselves from situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-thing-i-love-most-about-my-job-is-watching-people-age-backward/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“Our habit of wishing backward from what is to what might have been is the soft but persistent tapping that cracks the crystal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/our-habit-of-wishing-backward-from-what-is-to-what-might-have-been-is/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [“It took us a while to discover that we do effectively think, but that we more readily narrate backward in order to give ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/it-took-us-a-while-to-discover-that-we-do-effectively-think-but-that/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I learn things in a backward way. I learn all those limitations, and slowly my brain soaks them up, and if things go right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-learn-things-in-a-backward-way-i-learn-all-those-limitations-and/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [Honestly, if you were any slower, you’d be going backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honestly-if-you-were-any-slower-you-d-be-going-backward/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Whoever said that the past isn’t dead had it backward. It’s the future that’s already dead, already played out. This whole night has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/whoever-said-that-the-past-isn-t-dead-had-it-backward-it-s-the-future/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [“Thus the thoughtless drift backward toward slavery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/thus-the-thoughtless-drift-backward-toward-slavery/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [I hate looking backward, but every once in a while it sneaks up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-lancaster/i-hate-looking-backward-but-every-once-in-a-while-it-sneaks-up-on-you/) [Burt Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-lancaster/) ## More by Mihail Militaru > [“When we realize what ego is, we become ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/when-we-realize-what-ego-is-we-become-ashamed/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“Fear is Hell, Love is Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/fear-is-hell-love-is-heaven/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“Acceptance is the mother of all understandings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/acceptance-is-the-mother-of-all-understandings/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“What is life? Life is a fantastic gift from God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/what-is-life-life-is-a-fantastic-gift-from-god/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“We are all enlightened, but we choose to forget.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/we-are-all-enlightened-but-we-choose-to-forget/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“If I would be to prove the existence of God, I will do nothing about it. I will leave it to yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/if-i-would-be-to-prove-the-existence-of-god-i-will-do-nothing-about/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“If I were to prove the existence of God, I would do nothing about it. I will leave it to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/if-i-were-to-prove-the-existence-of-god-i-would-do-nothing-about-it-i/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“We cannot fight ego. If we do that ego always win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/we-cannot-fight-ego-if-we-do-that-ego-always-win/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“Being happy for no reason is the definition of happiness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/being-happy-for-no-reason-is-the-definition-of-happiness/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“I cannot save the world, but I can save myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/i-cannot-save-the-world-but-i-can-save-myself/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“The spirit is the manifestation of our souls; the ego is the manifestation of our minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/the-spirit-is-the-manifestation-of-our-souls-the-ego-is-the/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“Is darkness God too? Yes, but we have to turn on the light to see Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/is-darkness-god-too-yes-but-we-have-to-turn-on-the-light-to-see-him/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“God speaks to all of us; we just have to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/god-speaks-to-all-of-us-we-just-have-to-listen/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“The choice of heaven or hell starts right here on Earth. When we leave this life we will already know where we will go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/the-choice-of-heaven-or-hell-starts-right-here-on-earth-when-we-leave/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [“Be the light, and you will have no shadow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/be-the-light-and-you-will-have-no-shadow/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) [Explore all 24 Mihail Militaru quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) ## More Backward quotes > [I hate looking backward, but every once in a while it sneaks up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-lancaster/i-hate-looking-backward-but-every-once-in-a-while-it-sneaks-up-on-you/) [Burt Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-lancaster/) > [“Thus the thoughtless drift backward toward slavery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/thus-the-thoughtless-drift-backward-toward-slavery/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [“Whoever said that the past isn’t dead had it backward. It’s the future that’s already dead, already played out. This whole night has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/whoever-said-that-the-past-isn-t-dead-had-it-backward-it-s-the-future/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Honestly, if you were any slower, you’d be going backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/honestly-if-you-were-any-slower-you-d-be-going-backward/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I learn things in a backward way. I learn all those limitations, and slowly my brain soaks them up, and if things go right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-odenkirk/i-learn-things-in-a-backward-way-i-learn-all-those-limitations-and/) [Bob Odenkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-odenkirk/) > [“It took us a while to discover that we do effectively think, but that we more readily narrate backward in order to give ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/it-took-us-a-while-to-discover-that-we-do-effectively-think-but-that/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“Our habit of wishing backward from what is to what might have been is the soft but persistent tapping that cracks the crystal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/our-habit-of-wishing-backward-from-what-is-to-what-might-have-been-is/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [The thing I love most about my job is watching people age backward, becoming more lively and energetic as they free themselves from situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-thing-i-love-most-about-my-job-is-watching-people-age-backward/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“Dreaming her way backward in time, resurrecting images, the young girl realized, with wonder, that the absent are always present, that you don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-shields/dreaming-her-way-backward-in-time-resurrecting-images-the-young-girl/) [Carol Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-shields/) > [“Us ballplayers do things backward. First we play, then we retire and go to work. —CHARLIE GEHRINGER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-wilde/us-ballplayers-do-things-backward-first-we-play-then-we-retire-and-go-2/) [Lori Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-wilde/) > [This was the Darker Life, where every truth was written backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/this-was-the-darker-life-where-every-truth-was-written-backward/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!I am so weary of toil and of tears,-Toil without recompense, tears all in vain!Take them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chase-allen/backward-flow-backward-o-tide-of-the-years-i-am-so-weary-of-toil-and/) [Elizabeth Chase Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chase-allen/) > [I loved you backward and forward in time. I loved you beyond boundaries of time and space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-loved-you-backward-and-forward-in-time-i-loved-you-beyond/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead; that is where your future lies. Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/nobody-gets-to-live-life-backward-look-ahead-that-is-where-your/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) > [“Life, too, is like that. You live it forward, but understand it backward." from CUTTING FOR STONE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/life-too-is-like-that-you-live-it-forward-but-understand-it-backward/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) Browse all 340 Backward quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we judge others, we judge ourselves through comparison. 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