---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first step in the development of…"
description: "\"“The first step in the development of taste is to be willing to to credit your own opinion.”\" — Thomas Harris"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/thomas-harris-1874_first-step_the-first-step-in-the-development-of-tas_824821.png"
---

#  The first step in the development of taste is to be…

![“The first step in the development of taste is to be willing to to credit your own opinion.” quote by Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/thomas-harris-1874_first-step_the-first-step-in-the-development-of-tas_824821.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/thomas-harris-1874_first-step_the-first-step-in-the-development-of-tas_824821.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/thomas-harris-1874_first-step_the-first-step-in-the-development-of-tas_824821.png)

> ““The first step in the development of taste is to be willing to to credit your own opinion.””

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

## About This Quote

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

Developing personal taste requires confidence to trust and value your own judgments.

**In simple terms:** Trust your own taste.

Key Takeaway

Believe in your own opinion.

Themes

self‑esteem confidence taste creativity

Mood

reflective confident

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- art criticism
- personal style
- decision making
- creative work

Key Concepts

subjectivity self‑validation

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you often doubt your own preferences?
- How can you test the validity of your taste?

A Different Perspective

Your opinion may be biased or uninformed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/)

## Related quotes

> [People who recognize that money won't buy happiness are still willing to see if credit cards will do the trick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-mckenzie/people-who-recognize-that-money-won-t-buy-happiness-are-still-willing/)

[Charles E. McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-mckenzie/)

> [Many times we are not willing to give ourselves enough credit, and are too blind to realize that we are worth much more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/many-times-we-are-not-willing-to-give-ourselves-enough-credit-and-are/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [I can turn an idea into a business before you know it's going to be important. My first step will blow by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-can-turn-an-idea-into-a-business-before-you-know-it-s-going-to-be/)

[Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/)

> [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/)

[Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/)

> [Russia may soon get another chance to move closer to the West, to make a step - I do believe the first step toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-voinovich/russia-may-soon-get-another-chance-to-move-closer-to-the-west-to-make/)

[Vladimir Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-voinovich/)

> [How do you turn the invisible into the visible? The first step is to define your dream precisely; the only limit to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/how-do-you-turn-the-invisible-into-the-visible-the-first-step-is-to/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [“What liberty we find when we trade self-esteem for God-esteem, relying on what God’s Word says about us rather than looking solely to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-gallier/what-liberty-we-find-when-we-trade-self-esteem-for-god-esteem-relying/)

[Laura Gallier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-gallier/)

> [“Women create an idealized, hopeful vision for the future to inspire other women. Fiction and fantasy are the crucial first steps to changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/women-create-an-idealized-hopeful-vision-for-the-future-to-inspire/)

[Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/)

> [The cultural integration of psychedelics won't happen overnight, and the question of young people is perhaps the most difficult involved. The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/)

[Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/)

> [“A skillful literary artist has constructed a tale. If wise, he has not fashioned his thoughts to accommodate his incidents; but having conceived, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/a-skillful-literary-artist-has-constructed-a-tale-if-wise-he-has-not/)

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

> [“How, then, do you make failure into something people can face without fear? Part of the answer is simple: If we as leaders can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/how-then-do-you-make-failure-into-something-people-can-face-without/)

[Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/)

> [Larry Kramer wisely realized so early on that to change the world, people have to know you. If they know you and see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/larry-kramer-wisely-realized-so-early-on-that-to-change-the-world/)

[Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/)

> [At least before my hip replacement, I had a quick first step. I could get by you off the dribble. My business game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/at-least-before-my-hip-replacement-i-had-a-quick-first-step-i-could/)

[Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/)

> [“I remember wondering, within a year or two of taking my first steps, why only men sat to drink tea and converse, and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-remember-wondering-within-a-year-or-two-of-taking-my-first-steps/)

[Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/)

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

## More by Thomas Harris

> [“Don't think you can persuade me with appeals to my intellectual vanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/don-t-think-you-can-persuade-me-with-appeals-to-my-intellectual-vanity/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“He liked the Leedses. He was sorry that he had been to the morgue. He thought the madman who visited them might have liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/he-liked-the-leedses-he-was-sorry-that-he-had-been-to-the-morgue-he/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [On a related subject, Signore Pazzi, I must confess to you: I'm giving serious thought to eating your wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/on-a-related-subject-signore-pazzi-i-must-confess-to-you-i-m-giving/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [ “\[T\]here is no consensus in the psychiatric community that Dr. Lecter should be termed a man. He has long been regarded by his professional… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/t-here-is-no-consensus-in-the-psychiatric-community-that-dr-lecter/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“And then, the last words Raspail ever said: 'I wonder why my parents didn't kill me before I was old enough to fool them.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/and-then-the-last-words-raspail-ever-said-i-wonder-why-my-parents/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [One can only see what one observes, and one observes only things which are already in the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/one-can-only-see-what-one-observes-and-one-observes-only-things-which/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“She found Starling in the warm laundry room, dozing against the slow rump-rump of a washing machine in the smell of bleach and soap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/she-found-starling-in-the-warm-laundry-room-dozing-against-the-slow/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [He moves smoothly and slowly, carrying his concentration like a brimming cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/he-moves-smoothly-and-slowly-carrying-his-concentration-like-a/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [God's creatures who cried themselves to sleep stirred to cry again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/god-s-creatures-who-cried-themselves-to-sleep-stirred-to-cry-again/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“The emperor counsels simplicity. First principles. Of each particular thing, ask: What is it in itself, in its own constitution? What is its causal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/the-emperor-counsels-simplicity-first-principles-of-each-particular/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [What do you look at while you’re making up your mind? Ours is not a reflective culture, we do no raise our eyes up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/what-do-you-look-at-while-you-re-making-up-your-mind-ours-is-not-a/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“I have no plans to call on you, Clarice, the world being more interesting with you in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/i-have-no-plans-to-call-on-you-clarice-the-world-being-more/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“To write a novel, you begin with what you can see and then you add what came before and what came after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/to-write-a-novel-you-begin-with-what-you-can-see-and-then-you-add/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [“Every person is worth your time, Hannibal. If at first appearance a person seems dull, then look harder, look into him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/every-person-is-worth-your-time-hannibal-if-at-first-appearance-a/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

> [What he has in addition is pure empathy and projection,” Dr. Bloom said. “He can assume your point of view, or mine – and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/what-he-has-in-addition-is-pure-empathy-and-projection-dr-bloom-said/)

[Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

[Explore all 197 Thomas Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/)

## More First step quotes

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

> [“I remember wondering, within a year or two of taking my first steps, why only men sat to drink tea and converse, and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/i-remember-wondering-within-a-year-or-two-of-taking-my-first-steps/)

[Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/)

> [At least before my hip replacement, I had a quick first step. I could get by you off the dribble. My business game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/at-least-before-my-hip-replacement-i-had-a-quick-first-step-i-could/)

[Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/)

> [Larry Kramer wisely realized so early on that to change the world, people have to know you. If they know you and see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/larry-kramer-wisely-realized-so-early-on-that-to-change-the-world/)

[Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/)

> [“How, then, do you make failure into something people can face without fear? Part of the answer is simple: If we as leaders can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/how-then-do-you-make-failure-into-something-people-can-face-without/)

[Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/)

> [“A skillful literary artist has constructed a tale. If wise, he has not fashioned his thoughts to accommodate his incidents; but having conceived, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/a-skillful-literary-artist-has-constructed-a-tale-if-wise-he-has-not/)

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

> [The cultural integration of psychedelics won't happen overnight, and the question of young people is perhaps the most difficult involved. The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/)

[Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/)

> [“Women create an idealized, hopeful vision for the future to inspire other women. Fiction and fantasy are the crucial first steps to changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/women-create-an-idealized-hopeful-vision-for-the-future-to-inspire/)

[Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/)

> [“What liberty we find when we trade self-esteem for God-esteem, relying on what God’s Word says about us rather than looking solely to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-gallier/what-liberty-we-find-when-we-trade-self-esteem-for-god-esteem-relying/)

[Laura Gallier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-gallier/)

> [How do you turn the invisible into the visible? The first step is to define your dream precisely; the only limit to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/how-do-you-turn-the-invisible-into-the-visible-the-first-step-is-to/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [Russia may soon get another chance to move closer to the West, to make a step - I do believe the first step toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-voinovich/russia-may-soon-get-another-chance-to-move-closer-to-the-west-to-make/)

[Vladimir Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-voinovich/)

> [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/)

[Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/)

> [I can turn an idea into a business before you know it's going to be important. My first step will blow by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-can-turn-an-idea-into-a-business-before-you-know-it-s-going-to-be/)

[Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/)

> [“So, how do you make value flow? The first step, once value is defined and the entire value stream is identified, is to focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-womack/so-how-do-you-make-value-flow-the-first-step-once-value-is-defined/)

[James P. Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-womack/)

> [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/)

[Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/)

[Browse all 1,815 First step quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The first step in the development of taste is to be willing to to credit your own opinion.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Harris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/the-first-step-in-the-development-of-taste-is-to-be-willing-to-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "First step"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/the-first-step-in-the-development-of-taste-is-to-be-willing-to-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/thomas-harris-1874_first-step_the-first-step-in-the-development-of-tas_824821.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/thomas-harris-1874_first-step_the-first-step-in-the-development-of-tas_824821.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/thomas-harris-1874_first-step_the-first-step-in-the-development-of-tas_824821.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The first step in the development of taste is to be willing to to credit your own opinion.” — Thomas Harris",
                "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": "Thomas Harris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The first step in the development...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/the-first-step-in-the-development-of-taste-is-to-be-willing-to-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/the-first-step-in-the-development-of-taste-is-to-be-willing-to-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
