--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Four things belong to a judge: to hear…" description: "\"Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.\" — Socrates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/socrates-405_answers_four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-co_1126378.jpg" --- # Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to… ![“Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.” quote by Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/socrates-405_answers_four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-co_1126378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/socrates-405_answers_four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-co_1126378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/socrates-405_answers_four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-co_1126378.jpg) > “Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.” [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A judge must listen politely, respond with wisdom, think clearly, and rule without bias. **In simple terms:** Judge duties: listen, answer, think, decide fairly. Key Takeaway Practice impartiality and thoughtful judgment. Themes justice ethics decisionmaking Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - courtroom - mediation - policy deliberation Key Concepts philosophy legal theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure personal bias does not affect decisions? - What steps help maintain clarity in judgment? A Different Perspective Bias can cloud perception despite best intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Belong Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong-judge-3073471/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Decide Impartially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-impartially-3073472/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge/) [Judge Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-hear-3073473/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Soberly Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soberly-decide-3073474/) ## Related quotes > [A judge sworn to decide impartially can offer no forecasts, no hints, for that would show not only disregard for the specifics of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/a-judge-sworn-to-decide-impartially-can-offer-no-forecasts-no-hints/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [People should not judge me on what they hear. Let them wait and see me in action. Then they will see how I serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salva-kiir-mayardit/people-should-not-judge-me-on-what-they-hear-let-them-wait-and-see-me/) [Salva Kiir Mayardit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salva-kiir-mayardit/) > [It is foolish to judge what you can't see, what you can't hear, and what you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/it-is-foolish-to-judge-what-you-can-t-see-what-you-can-t-hear-and/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [When I present evidence, I expect the judge to hear and see all the evidence that gets presented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/when-i-present-evidence-i-expect-the-judge-to-hear-and-see-all-the/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [In every one of us there are two ruling and directing principles, whose guidance we follow wherever they may lead; the one being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/in-every-one-of-us-there-are-two-ruling-and-directing-principles/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [God will judge people on the basis of what they did in light of what they knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/god-will-judge-people-on-the-basis-of-what-they-did-in-light-of-what/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [A judge found it constitutionally intolerable that Louisiana should interject 'religious beliefs and moral judgments into teaching.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-murchison/a-judge-found-it-constitutionally-intolerable-that-louisiana-should/) [William Murchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-murchison/) > [Whenever you do judge, the only basis of judgment is not your own perspective or anything else, it's the very character and nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/whenever-you-do-judge-the-only-basis-of-judgment-is-not-your-own/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [If you don't know me... please don't judge me. just let me be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/if-you-don-t-know-me-please-don-t-judge-me-just-let-me-be/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [“Who are we, to pass judgment on one another. When we have once done the same foolish acts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/who-are-we-to-pass-judgment-on-one-another-when-we-have-once-done-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Never judge a person without getting to know them first.\[:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-tessa/never-judge-a-person-without-getting-to-know-them-first/) [Fiona Tessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-tessa/) > [“A good judge is not one who is impartial, but one who has prejudice for good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/a-good-judge-is-not-one-who-is-impartial-but-one-who-has-prejudice/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [Dont judge me by my hair, my skin colour, my body size, or my outer beauty. Because if you do, you might miss who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-judge-me-by-my-hair-my-skin-colour-my-body-size-or-my-outer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm all about evolution. I'm the first person to judge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-all-about-evolution-i-m-the-first-person-to-judge-myself/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) ## More by Socrates > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/falling-down-is-not-a-failure-failure-comes-when-you-stay-where-you/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Do not go through life like leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/do-not-go-through-life-like-leaf-blown-from-here-to-there-believing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-the-whole-world-depends-on-today-s-youth-i-can-t-see-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I only know, I know nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-only-know-i-know-nothing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-cannot-teach-anybody-anything-i-can-only-make-them-think/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Marry a good woman, and be happy the rest of your life. Or, marry a bad, and become a good philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/marry-a-good-woman-and-be-happy-the-rest-of-your-life-or-marry-a-bad/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown; and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/for-the-fear-of-death-is-indeed-the-pretense-of-wisdom-and-not-real/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [There is no difference between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/there-is-no-difference-between-knowledge-and-temperance-for-he-who/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Besides, it is a shame to let yourself grow old through neglect before seeing how you can develop the maximum beauty and strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/besides-it-is-a-shame-to-let-yourself-grow-old-through-neglect-before/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The greatest blessing granted to mankind come by way of madness, which is a divine gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-greatest-blessing-granted-to-mankind-come-by-way-of-madness-which/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can...And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-desire-only-to-know-the-truth-and-to-live-as-well-as-i-can-and-to/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [So you would rather suffer an injustice than do an injustice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/so-you-would-rather-suffer-an-injustice-than-do-an-injustice/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The end of life is to be like unto God; and the soul following God, will be like unto Him; He being the beginning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-end-of-life-is-to-be-like-unto-god-and-the-soul-following-god/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) [Explore all 579 Socrates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Socrates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-courteously-to-answer-wisely-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-courteously-to-answer-wisely-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/socrates-405_answers_four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-co_1126378.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/socrates-405_answers_four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-co_1126378.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/socrates-405_answers_four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-co_1126378.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide…” — Socrates", "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": "Socrates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Four things belong to a judge:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-courteously-to-answer-wisely-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/four-things-belong-to-a-judge-to-hear-courteously-to-answer-wisely-to/#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 } } ] } ```