--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it be an evil to judge rashly or…" description: "\"If it be an evil to judge rashly or untruly any single man, how much a greater sin it is to condemn a whole people.\" — William Penn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/william-penn-1104_condemn_if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untr_867129.png" --- # If it be an evil to judge rashly or untruly any single… ![“If it be an evil to judge rashly or untruly any single man, how much a greater sin it is to condemn a whole people.” quote by William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/william-penn-1104_condemn_if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untr_867129.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/william-penn-1104_condemn_if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untr_867129.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/william-penn-1104_condemn_if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untr_867129.png) > “If it be an evil to judge rashly or untruly any single man, how much a greater sin it is to condemn a whole people.” [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judging an individual harshly is bad, but condemning an entire group is far worse. **In simple terms:** Condemning a whole group is a greater sin than judging one person. Key Takeaway Avoid blanket judgments about groups. Themes justice prejudice collective responsibility Mood concerned reflective Type ethical social commentary When to use this quote - political discourse - media reporting - workplace diversity - legal judgments Key Concepts ethics social bias group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure you judge individuals rather than groups? - What steps can you take to avoid collective bias? A Different Perspective Groups have varied members, so sweeping condemnation can be inaccurate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Condemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condemn/) [Condemn People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condemn-people-913478/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-judge-913479/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Greater Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-sin-416571/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Condemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-condemn-913477/) [Single man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-man/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [“ 'Yes, we rather condemn people for eternity without the courtesy of informing them.' ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/yes-we-rather-condemn-people-for-eternity-without-the-courtesy-of/) [Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/) > [“It’s difficult to take oneself with sufficient seriousness to begin any sentence with the words “Thou shalt not.” But who cannot summon the confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-difficult-to-take-oneself-with-sufficient-seriousness-to-begin/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [What I'm saying in my books boils down to this: Mine religion for what is good and avoid what is deleterious. Don't condemn people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/what-i-m-saying-in-my-books-boils-down-to-this-mine-religion-for-what/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [I am very conscious that you can't condemn people of an earlier era by the standards of ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-am-very-conscious-that-you-can-t-condemn-people-of-an-earlier-era/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is wrong to condemn people for doing a thing and then offer no alternative but failure. A person could get mad about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-is-wrong-to-condemn-people-for-doing-a-thing-and-then-offer-no/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Stupidity is the same as evil if you judge by the results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/stupidity-is-the-same-as-evil-if-you-judge-by-the-results/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The gospel comes to the sinner at once with nothing short of complete forgiveness as the starting-point of all his efforts to be holy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/the-gospel-comes-to-the-sinner-at-once-with-nothing-short-of-complete/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [We are all afflicted with our own spiritual blindness. That's what sin does to us, and we all sin. We would do better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/we-are-all-afflicted-with-our-own-spiritual-blindness-that-s-what-sin/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [We can be assured that each step deeper into the Lord's Presence will reveal areas in our hearts which need to be cleansed. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-frangipane/we-can-be-assured-that-each-step-deeper-into-the-lord-s-presence-will/) [Francis Frangipane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-frangipane/) > [When I took over from my father, he came from the Southern Baptist background, and back 40-50 years ago, there was a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-i-took-over-from-my-father-he-came-from-the-southern-baptist/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [-Do not condemn people, instead try to understand them - Try honestly to see things from other people's point of view - The only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewels/do-not-condemn-people-instead-try-to-understand-them-try-honestly-to/) [Jewels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewels/) > [If you're going to condemn a people based on the actions of the worst of its ranks; take a good look at the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/if-you-re-going-to-condemn-a-people-based-on-the-actions-of-the-worst/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [I don't like to condemn people because what that means is that you're only condemning yourself about a part of you that you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-don-t-like-to-condemn-people-because-what-that-means-is-that-you-re/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm here to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-don-t-have-it-in-my-heart-to-condemn-people-i-m-here-to-encourage/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We have a tendency to condemn people who are different from us, to define their sins as paramount and our own sinfulness as being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-have-a-tendency-to-condemn-people-who-are-different-from-us-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## More by William Penn > [Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/love-grows-lust-wastes-by-enjoyment-and-the-reason-is-that-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Once you've accumulated sufficient knowledge to get by, you're too old to remember it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/once-you-ve-accumulated-sufficient-knowledge-to-get-by-you-re-too-old/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [If thou wouldn't conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-thou-wouldn-t-conquer-thy-weakness-thou-must-not-gratify-it/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Religion is the fear of God, and its demonstration good works; and faith is the root of both: For without faith we cannot please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/religion-is-the-fear-of-god-and-its-demonstration-good-works-and/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [All excess is ill; but drunkenness is of the worst sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and unmans men. It reveals secrets, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/all-excess-is-ill-but-drunkenness-is-of-the-worst-sort-it-spoils/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [“Let us then try what love can do to mend a broken world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/let-us-then-try-what-love-can-do-to-mend-a-broken-world/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > ['Tis no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/tis-no-sin-to-be-tempted-but-to-be-overcome/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Perfect love casteth out fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/perfect-love-casteth-out-fear/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [By liberty of conscience, we understand not only a mere liberty of the mind, in believing or disbelieving this or that principle or doctrine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/by-liberty-of-conscience-we-understand-not-only-a-mere-liberty-of-the/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general; for one link being wanting, the chain is defective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/content-not-thyself-that-thou-art-virtuous-in-the-general-for-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [We are apt to be very pert at censuring others, where we will not endure advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/we-are-apt-to-be-very-pert-at-censuring-others-where-we-will-not/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [It is admirable to consider how many millions of people come into, and go out of the world, ignorant of themselves and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/it-is-admirable-to-consider-how-many-millions-of-people-come-into-and/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him... Those who will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-thou-wouldst-rule-well-thou-must-rule-for-god-and-to-do-that-thou/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God, and feel His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/in-the-rush-and-noise-of-life-as-you-have-intervals-step-home-within/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Be sure that religion cannot be right that a man is the worse for having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/be-sure-that-religion-cannot-be-right-that-a-man-is-the-worse-for/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) [Explore all 291 William Penn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) ## More Condemn quotes > [If you condemn someone who has committed a crime to be tortured, that would be unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-condemn-someone-who-has-committed-a-crime-to-be-tortured-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [“Going to the extreme of inviting and welcoming people into your church in order to hear you condemn them or to know from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/going-to-the-extreme-of-inviting-and-welcoming-people-into-your/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-there-is-injustice-dare-to-be-the-first-to-condemn-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Fix, commit, condemn yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/fix-commit-condemn-yourself/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [...The people love him. So how can we condemn him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/the-people-love-him-so-how-can-we-condemn-him/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [It is rash to condemn where you are ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-rash-to-condemn-where-you-are-ignorant/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me. Set the dogs on me. Because that's what needs to happen. Because sometimes truth isn't good enough. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/you-ll-hunt-me-you-ll-condemn-me-set-the-dogs-on-me-because-that-s/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [Many governments are quick to condemn Assad, but a dwindling number of them would celebrate a rebel victory in Damascus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/many-governments-are-quick-to-condemn-assad-but-a-dwindling-number-of/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [I condemn all statements - made in sincerity or jest - that threaten or suggest the use of violence against the president of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/i-condemn-all-statements-made-in-sincerity-or-jest-that-threaten-or/) [Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/) > [The wretch condemn'd with life to part, Still, still on hope relies; And every pang that rends the heart Bids expectation rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-wretch-condemn-d-with-life-to-part-still-still-on-hope-relies-and/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [We like to think the best of ourselves. We like to believe we always say and do the right things. We like to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/we-like-to-think-the-best-of-ourselves-we-like-to-believe-we-always/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [Condemn me, it does not matter: history will absolve me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/condemn-me-it-does-not-matter-history-will-absolve-me/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [“Lewis Richardson wrote that his quest to analyze peace with numbers sprang from two prejudices. As a Quaker, he believed that "the moral evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/lewis-richardson-wrote-that-his-quest-to-analyze-peace-with-numbers/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“this other man within us, has got to be handled. Do not listen to him; turn on him; speak to him; condemn him; upbraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-martyn-lloyd-jones/this-other-man-within-us-has-got-to-be-handled-do-not-listen-to-him/) [D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [The U.N. Security Council did not to condemn the Qana massacre, due to the U.S. veto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-nasrallah/the-u-n-security-council-did-not-to-condemn-the-qana-massacre-due-to/) [Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-nasrallah/) [Browse all 185 Condemn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condemn/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it be an evil to judge rashly or untruly any single man, how much a greater sin it is to condemn a whole people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Penn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untruly-any-single-man-how-much-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Condemn" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untruly-any-single-man-how-much-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/william-penn-1104_condemn_if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untr_867129.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/william-penn-1104_condemn_if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untr_867129.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/william-penn-1104_condemn_if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untr_867129.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it be an evil to judge rashly or untruly any single man, how much a greater sin it is to condemn a whole…” — William Penn", "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": "William Penn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If it be an evil to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untruly-any-single-man-how-much-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-it-be-an-evil-to-judge-rashly-or-untruly-any-single-man-how-much-a/#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 } } ] } ```