---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I've learned one thing in life, it's…"
description: "\"If I've learned one thing in life, it's not to be so judgmental of other people.\" — Patti Smith"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d15/patti-smith-394_judgmental_if-i-ve-learned-one-thing-in-life-it-s-n_2514687.jpg"
---

#  If I've learned one thing in life, it's not to be so…

![“If I've learned one thing in life, it's not to be so judgmental of other people.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d15/patti-smith-394_judgmental_if-i-ve-learned-one-thing-in-life-it-s-n_2514687.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d15/patti-smith-394_judgmental_if-i-ve-learned-one-thing-in-life-it-s-n_2514687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d15/patti-smith-394_judgmental_if-i-ve-learned-one-thing-in-life-it-s-n_2514687.jpg)

> “If I've learned one thing in life, it's not to be so judgmental of other people.”

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

## About This Quote

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

Learning not to judge others fosters empathy and personal growth, reducing prejudice.

**In simple terms:** Avoid judgment to be more empathetic.

Key Takeaway

Practice empathy and suspend judgment.

Themes

empathy judgment personal growth relationships psychology

Mood

thoughtful hopeful

Type

philosophical self‑help

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- team building
- personal counseling
- community outreach
- education curricula

Key Concepts

Mindfulness social cognition

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you cultivate non‑judgmental attitudes?
- What benefits arise from reduced judgment?

A Different Perspective

May be difficult when values clash strongly.

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> [I've never understood people that sleep around. I think there's something very lacking in your life when you do, not to be judgmental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-ve-never-understood-people-that-sleep-around-i-think-there-s/)

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[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [So many freaking judgmental people in the world, you end up becoming pretentious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-many-freaking-judgmental-people-in-the-world-you-end-up-becoming/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [One of the things I have learned is some of the most judgmental people have been other moms, and there have also been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ponder/one-of-the-things-i-have-learned-is-some-of-the-most-judgmental/)

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> [I can't stand judgmental people. I'm sorry, I just wasn't raised that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-stand-judgmental-people-i-m-sorry-i-just-wasn-t-raised-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think it's so easy to be judgmental of other people's decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-it-s-so-easy-to-be-judgmental-of-other-people-s-decisions/)

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> [I hate judgmental people that don't accept people that are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-judgmental-people-that-don-t-accept-people-that-are-different/)

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> [If you want to judge someone then go look in the mirror before you say anything words can be hurtful the best thing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanna-woodward-mee/if-you-want-to-judge-someone-then-go-look-in-the-mirror-before-you/)

[Alanna Woodward (mee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanna-woodward-mee/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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[Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/)

## More by Patti Smith

> [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/)

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> [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [“Inside it he inscribed a few lines of poetry, portraying us as the gypsy and the fool, one creating silence; one listening closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/inside-it-he-inscribed-a-few-lines-of-poetry-portraying-us-as-the/)

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[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

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[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

[Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

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