Condemns Quote by Samuel Richardson
“The world, the wise world, that never is wrong itself, judges always by events. And if he should use me ill, then I shall be blamed for trusting him: if well, O then I did right, to be sure!But how would my censurers act in mycase, before the event justifiesor condemns the action, is thequestion.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Clarissa by Samuel Richardson, 1748
Judgment should be based on outcomes, not intentions; actions are judged after consequences appear.
In simple terms: Judge actions after results.
Key Takeaway
Consider consequences before acting.
Themes
ethics
judgment
consequence
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- legal decisions
- personal relationships
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
philosophy
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance intent vs outcome?
- Can you trust judgments made before events unfold?
A Different Perspective
Ignores intent, which can be morally relevant.
![“There exists in our society widespread fear of judging…[B]ehind the unwillingness to judge lurks the suspicion that no one is a free agent, and hence doubt that anyone is responsible or could be expected to answer for what he has done…Who has ever maintained that by judging a wrong I presuppose…” quote by Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ba/hannah-arendt-610_agents_there-exists-in-our-society-widespread-f_1561567.jpg)
