--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am fearful, or suspicious, of…" description: "\"I am fearful, or suspicious, of generalizations... They cannot guide me reliably in making decisions about particular individuals.\" — Ruth Bader Ginsburg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_cannot_i-am-fearful-or-suspicious-of-generaliza_338314.jpg" --- # I am fearful, or suspicious, of generalizations... They… ![“I am fearful, or suspicious, of generalizations... They cannot guide me reliably in making decisions about particular individuals.” quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_cannot_i-am-fearful-or-suspicious-of-generaliza_338314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_cannot_i-am-fearful-or-suspicious-of-generaliza_338314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/ruth-bader-ginsburg-1906_cannot_i-am-fearful-or-suspicious-of-generaliza_338314.jpg) > “I am fearful, or suspicious, of generalizations... They cannot guide me reliably in making decisions about particular individuals.” [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Generalizations risk overlooking individual differences, leading to poor judgments about people. **In simple terms:** Stereotypes can mislead decisions about individuals. Key Takeaway Judge each person on their own merits. Themes justice critical thinking individuality Mood thoughtful analytical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - hiring - legal rulings - personal relationships - policy design Key Concepts bias stereotyping decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance patterns with personal nuance? - When might a general rule be useful? A Different Perspective Overreliance on patterns can ignore unique contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fearful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearful/) [Making decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-decisions/) [Suspicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicious/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes we read or hear too much news that makes us fearful or suspicious of others. 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Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [Honestly, what can really be said about 'the Jewish people' as a whole? Is it not a lamentable stereotype to make large generalizations about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/honestly-what-can-really-be-said-about-the-jewish-people-as-a-whole/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [...there are special sciences not because of the nature of our epistemic relation to the world, but because of the way the world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-fodor/there-are-special-sciences-not-because-of-the-nature-of-our-epistemic/) [Jerry Fodor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-fodor/) > [It is certain that the study of human psychology, if it were undertaken exclusively in prisons, would also lead to misrepresentation and absurd generalizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-psychology-if-it-were/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [“It is one of the striking generalizations of biochemistry—which surprisingly is hardly ever mentioned in the biochemical text-books—that the twenty amino acids and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/it-is-one-of-the-striking-generalizations-of-biochemistry-which/) [Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/) > [“The problem with generalizations is that there are always special cases under which they don't apply, except for when there aren't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-himself/the-problem-with-generalizations-is-that-there-are-always-special/) John Himself > [All generalizations are inaccurate, including this one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/all-generalizations-are-inaccurate-including-this-one/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Usually, thinking may end up widen our imaginations that creates nonsense generalizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glemar/usually-thinking-may-end-up-widen-our-imaginations-that-creates/) Glemar > [“Over against these generalizations we raise no objection, but there are many cases, in practical life, of doubtful nature. An act of charity, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/over-against-these-generalizations-we-raise-no-objection-but-there/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Any general statement is like a cheque drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/any-general-statement-is-like-a-cheque-drawn-on-a-bank-its-value/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“In displaying the psychology of your characters, minute particulars are essential. God save us from vague generalizations!" ( Letter to Alexander Chekhov , May 10, 1886)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/in-displaying-the-psychology-of-your-characters-minute-particulars/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“All generalizations are questionable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-schuman/all-generalizations-are-questionable/) Sandor Schuman ## More by Ruth Bader Ginsburg > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. 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Because it wasn't until 1981 that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/it-s-a-facet-of-the-gay-rights-movement-that-people-don-t-think-about/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it. 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You cannot dictate how people read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/once-you-publish-a-book-it-is-out-of-your-control-you-cannot-dictate/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The Brazilians are amazing in their nature. You cannot describe it; you must feel that warmth when you're around them to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrikh-mkhitaryan/the-brazilians-are-amazing-in-their-nature-you-cannot-describe-it-you/) [Henrikh Mkhitaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrikh-mkhitaryan/) > [The two things you cannot do effectively on stage are pray and copulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-two-things-you-cannot-do-effectively-on-stage-are-pray-and/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Liberty does not exist where rights are on one side and power on the other. 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