--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To begin with myself, then, the…" description: "\"To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so muc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/petrarch-6716_bounds_to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances_3161323.png" --- # To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men… ![“To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.” quote by Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/petrarch-6716_bounds_to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances_3161323.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/petrarch-6716_bounds_to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances_3161323.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/petrarch-6716_bounds_to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances_3161323.png) > “To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.” [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People judge based on personal bias rather than objective truth, so opinions about us vary widely. **In simple terms:** Judgments are shaped by personal preferences, not facts. Key Takeaway Seek self‑knowledge beyond others’ opinions. Themes bias perception truth Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship conflicts - public speaking - online reputation Key Concepts subjectivity social psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate bias from fact? - What strategies help you stay objective? A Different Perspective Bias can be hard to overcome even with evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Passing judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing-judgment/) [Preference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preference/) ## Related quotes > [“But that's all hindsight. That evening, my mind was cloudy, and my good judgment was influenced by my need to prove something. It goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/but-that-s-all-hindsight-that-evening-my-mind-was-cloudy-and-my-good/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [Reason has never really directed social reality, but now reason has been so thoroughly purged of any specific trend or preference that it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-horkheimer/reason-has-never-really-directed-social-reality-but-now-reason-has/) [Max Horkheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-horkheimer/) > [We sometimes differ more widely from ourselves than we do from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-sometimes-differ-more-widely-from-ourselves-than-we-do-from-others/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Even in the important matter of cranial capacity, Men differ more widely from one another than they do from the Apes; while the lowest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/even-in-the-important-matter-of-cranial-capacity-men-differ-more/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [“We differ widely enough in our nobler qualities. It is in our follies that we are at one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/we-differ-widely-enough-in-our-nobler-qualities-it-is-in-our-follies/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [We may differ widely in environments, education, learning, knowledge, or lack of it, and in our personalities, our likes and dislikes. But if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-baldwin/we-may-differ-widely-in-environments-education-learning-knowledge-or/) [Faith Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-baldwin/) > [It is only in the case of the Priestly Code that opinions differ widely; for it tries hard to imitate the costume of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-wellhausen/it-is-only-in-the-case-of-the-priestly-code-that-opinions-differ/) [Julius Wellhausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-wellhausen/) > [The faculties of our souls differ as widely as the features of our faces and the forms of our frames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/the-faculties-of-our-souls-differ-as-widely-as-the-features-of-our/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [It's easy to become very self-critical when you're an actor. Then you get critiqued by the critics. Whether you agree with them or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/it-s-easy-to-become-very-self-critical-when-you-re-an-actor-then-you/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/let-every-one-be-fully-convinced-in-his-own-mind/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [It's like do White privilege exist? Absolutely. In the case of passing judgment, you have to make sure that you're passing judgement on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/it-s-like-do-white-privilege-exist-absolutely-in-the-case-of-passing/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [“When one says, I won't judge you for that, what they're really saying is, I am judging you for that. Think about it. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/when-one-says-i-won-t-judge-you-for-that-what-they-re-really-saying/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [“To get girls he had figured out that all you had to do was talk little, the bare minimum, and listen much, without ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sveva-casati-modignani/to-get-girls-he-had-figured-out-that-all-you-had-to-do-was-talk/) Sveva Casati Modignani > [“The move from description to prescription, from saying what happens to passing judgment on what should happen, is a creative one, a fundamentally human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-carroll/the-move-from-description-to-prescription-from-saying-what-happens-to/) [Sean Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-carroll/) > [“The most seductive sin, I suppose, is passing judgment on others, and the next must be acting out of one's anger when one has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-gavin/the-most-seductive-sin-i-suppose-is-passing-judgment-on-others-and/) Nell Gavin ## More by Petrarch > [Five enemies of peace inhabit with us - avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/five-enemies-of-peace-inhabit-with-us-avarice-ambition-envy-anger-and/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [I would have preferred to have been born in any other time than our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/i-would-have-preferred-to-have-been-born-in-any-other-time-than-our/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [The time will come when every change shall cease, This quick revolving wheel shall rest in peace: No summer then shall glow, not winter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/the-time-will-come-when-every-change-shall-cease-this-quick-revolving/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [Wanting is not enough, long and you attain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/wanting-is-not-enough-long-and-you-attain-it/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [The aged love what is practical while impetuous youth longs only for what is dazzling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/the-aged-love-what-is-practical-while-impetuous-youth-longs-only-for/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [Oh, may she deign to stand atmy bedside When I come to die; and may she call to me And draw me to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/oh-may-she-deign-to-stand-atmy-bedside-when-i-come-to-die-and-may-she/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/how-difficult-it-is-to-save-the-bark-of-reputation-from-the-rocks-of/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [Do you suppose there is any living man so unreasonable that if he found himself stricken with a dangerous ailment he would not anxiously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/do-you-suppose-there-is-any-living-man-so-unreasonable-that-if-he/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [Sameness is the mother of disgust, variety the cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/sameness-is-the-mother-of-disgust-variety-the-cure/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [He loves but lightly who his love can tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/he-loves-but-lightly-who-his-love-can-tell/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/rarely-do-great-beauty-and-great-virtue-dwell-together/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [It is better to will the good than to know the truth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/it-is-better-to-will-the-good-than-to-know-the-truth/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [For death betimes is comfort, not dismay, and who can rightly die needs no delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/for-death-betimes-is-comfort-not-dismay-and-who-can-rightly-die-needs/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [“I feed my heart with sighs, that's all it asks, I live on tears, I think I'm born to weep; I don't complain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/i-feed-my-heart-with-sighs-that-s-all-it-asks-i-live-on-tears-i-think/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [Often have I wondered with much curiosity as to our coming into this world and what will follow our departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/often-have-i-wondered-with-much-curiosity-as-to-our-coming-into-this/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) [Explore all 98 Petrarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) ## More Bounds quotes > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Christian obligation cannot be made to accord with a law of expediency. The Christian's maxims are, Do right because you are bound to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-landey-patton/christian-obligation-cannot-be-made-to-accord-with-a-law-of/) Francis Landey Patton > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['Facts' are the bounds of human knowledge, set for it, not by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/facts-are-the-bounds-of-human-knowledge-set-for-it-not-by-it/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [An order given in battle, an instruction issued by the master of a sailing ship, a cry for help, are as powerful in modifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronislaw-malinowski/an-order-given-in-battle-an-instruction-issued-by-the-master-of-a/) [Bronislaw Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronislaw-malinowski/) > [It is only when our life proceeds within bounds and in an accepted, disciplined way, that the mind can be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinoba-bhave/it-is-only-when-our-life-proceeds-within-bounds-and-in-an-accepted/) [Vinoba Bhave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinoba-bhave/) > [Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/yes-thou-art-ever-present-power-divine-not-circumscribed-by-time-nor/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/once-we-are-bound-together-to-our-brothers-by-a-common-good-that-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science…It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-am-quite-conscious-that-my-speculations-run-beyond-the-bounds-of/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 1,649 Bounds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Petrarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances-of-men-concerning-me-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bounds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances-of-men-concerning-me-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/petrarch-6716_bounds_to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances_3161323.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/petrarch-6716_bounds_to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances_3161323.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/petrarch-6716_bounds_to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances_3161323.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing…” — Petrarch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Petrarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To begin with myself, then, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances-of-men-concerning-me-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/to-begin-with-myself-then-the-utterances-of-men-concerning-me-will/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```