--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One's past is what one is. It is the only…" description: "\"One's past is what one is. It is the only way by which people should be judged.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/oscar-wilde-16_judged_one-s-past-is-what-one-is-it-is-the-only_2924696.jpg" --- # One's past is what one is. It is the only way by which… ![“One's past is what one is. It is the only way by which people should be judged.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/oscar-wilde-16_judged_one-s-past-is-what-one-is-it-is-the-only_2924696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/oscar-wilde-16_judged_one-s-past-is-what-one-is-it-is-the-only_2924696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/oscar-wilde-16_judged_one-s-past-is-what-one-is-it-is-the-only_2924696.jpg) > “One's past is what one is. It is the only way by which people should be judged.” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One's past defines them, and judgment should be based solely on that history. **In simple terms:** Past defines identity and judgment. Key Takeaway Judge based on history. Themes identity judgment history Mood reflective critical Type philosophical dramatic When to use this quote - legal contexts - personal relationships Key Concepts personal past social evaluation character assessment Questions to Reflect On - How does past shape present? - Can people change? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on past can ignore growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“People Should be judged by their actions, since in the end, it was actions that defined everyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/people-should-be-judged-by-their-actions-since-in-the-end-it-was/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“But who would hold up his head, if people judged us by what we were like at twenty?" 398”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-who-would-hold-up-his-head-if-people-judged-us-by-what-we-were/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [The stage is a place where I can be wholly myself. Even though you're in front of people almost to be judged, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/the-stage-is-a-place-where-i-can-be-wholly-myself-even-though-you-re/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [I want to live in a world where people are judged by who they are instead of what size they wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/i-want-to-live-in-a-world-where-people-are-judged-by-who-they-are/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [There are so many things I can't believe. That people deserve what they get, both bad and good. That one day I'll live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/there-are-so-many-things-i-can-t-believe-that-people-deserve-what/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [People should not get judged for being themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-should-not-get-judged-for-being-themselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The consolations of the vulgar are bitter in the royal ear. Let physicians and confectioners and servants in the great houses be judged by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/the-consolations-of-the-vulgar-are-bitter-in-the-royal-ear-let/) [Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/) > [Meritocracy is a good thing. Whenever possibly, people should be judged based on their work and results, not superficial qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/meritocracy-is-a-good-thing-whenever-possibly-people-should-be-judged/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“Still, it was a sad state of the world that people judged others not by the best that they could be but by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/still-it-was-a-sad-state-of-the-world-that-people-judged-others-not/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [It always seemed to me that white people were judged as individuals. But if a Negro did something stupid or wrong, it was held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-elizabeth-delany/it-always-seemed-to-me-that-white-people-were-judged-as-individuals/) [Annie Elizabeth Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-elizabeth-delany/) > [The past is the past. They call it that for a reason. Dont let the past get in the way of you or your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-is-the-past-they-call-it-that-for-a-reason-dont-let-the-past/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes the past has a way of stealing your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-strange/sometimes-the-past-has-a-way-of-stealing-your-future/) Liz Strange > [Past will never had a way to rewind and play. It is an experience with many reasons but leave you with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weny-jane/past-will-never-had-a-way-to-rewind-and-play-it-is-an-experience-with/) [Weny Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weny-jane/) > [ “\[The past\] has a way of hanging around, demanding we understand it and weave it into ourselves so that we can go on.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-coel/the-past-has-a-way-of-hanging-around-demanding-we-understand-it-and/) Margaret Coel > [I do not want to go back to the past; I want to go back to the past way of facing the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-do-not-want-to-go-back-to-the-past-i-want-to-go-back-to-the-past/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Judged quotes > [I ask to be judged on the issue of unemployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-ask-to-be-judged-on-the-issue-of-unemployment/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [All books are judged by their covers until they are read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryrose-wood/all-books-are-judged-by-their-covers-until-they-are-read/) [Maryrose Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryrose-wood/) > [A person should be judged by the actions of his or her own heart and character not by his or her race, creed, age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veedan-shimakuura/a-person-should-be-judged-by-the-actions-of-his-or-her-own-heart-and/) [Veedan Shimakuura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veedan-shimakuura/) > [A nation of character is filled with citizens who gradually build lives based on the living awareness that their deeds are judged by eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-nation-of-character-is-filled-with-citizens-who-gradually-build/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Art finds her own perfection within, and not outside of, herself. She is not to be judged by any external standard of resemblance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/art-finds-her-own-perfection-within-and-not-outside-of-herself-she-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you have always believed that everyone should play by the same rules and be judged by the same standards, that would have gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/if-you-have-always-believed-that-everyone-should-play-by-the-same/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I have never judged myself by other people’s standards. I have always expected a great deal of myself, and if I fail, I fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-have-never-judged-myself-by-other-people-s-standards-i-have-always/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [I sometimes wish taste wasn't ever an issue, and the sounds of instruments or synths could be judged solely on their colour and timbre.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-greenwood/i-sometimes-wish-taste-wasn-t-ever-an-issue-and-the-sounds-of/) [Jonny Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-greenwood/) > [I'm just not interested in getting judged or getting people to love me. Being seen and taking my photo and having to follow this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-m-just-not-interested-in-getting-judged-or-getting-people-to-love/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [They judge lest they be judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/they-judge-lest-they-be-judged/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [In the light of absolute values (religious or ethical) man himself is judged to be limited or imperfect, while he can occasionally accomplish acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-e-hulme/in-the-light-of-absolute-values-religious-or-ethical-man-himself-is/) [T. E. Hulme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-e-hulme/) > [I always feel like I've been slightly misunderstood. 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That's not part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aspen-ladd/it-would-be-amazing-if-we-were-just-basically-judged-on-the-merits-of/) [Aspen Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aspen-ladd/) Browse all 1,132 Judged quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One's past is what one is. 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