QuoteProject
A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.
George Washington
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Understanding someone's intentions can provide context for their actions.

This quote by George Washington emphasizes the importance of considering a person's intentions when evaluating their actions. It suggests that intentions can offer valuable insights into why someone acted in a certain way, and that these intentions should be taken into account when judging their behavior to avoid misunderstandings.

Themes

IntentionsActionsJudgmentUnderstandingPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about morality, one might reference this quote to highlight the importance of context in ethical decision-making.

More from George Washington

Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me thy servant, who humbly prostrate myself before thee.
George WashingtonRead
If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.
George WashingtonRead
The duty of holding a Neutral conduct may be inferred, without any thing more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of Peace and amity toward other Nations.
George WashingtonRead
We began a contest for liberty ill provided with the means for the war, relying on our patriotism to supply the deficiency. We expected to encounter many wants and distressed we must bear the present evils and fortitude
George WashingtonRead
What is most important of this grand experiment, the United States? Not the election of the first president but the election of its second president. The peaceful transition of power is what will separate this country from every other country in the world.
George WashingtonRead
Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.
George WashingtonRead

Similar quotes

I am aware that no man is a villain in his own eyes.
James A. BaldwinRead
Real people have trouble balancing their checkbooks, much less calculating how much they need to save for retirement; they sometimes binge on food, drink, or high-definition televisions. They are more like Homer Simpson than Mr. Spock.
Richard ThalerRead
The past exists only in our memories, the future only in our plans. The present is our only reality. The tree that you are aware of intellectually, because of that small time lag, is always in the past and therefore is always unreal. Any intellectually conceived object is always in the past and therefore unreal. Reality is always the moment of vision before the intellectualization takes place. There is no other reality.
Robert M. PirsigRead
The truth, of course, is that the only necessary and sufficient condition for human beings to murder one another is the simple fact of being human.
Jeffrey KlugerRead
Reactionary: a man walking backwards with his face to the future.
Aneurin BevanRead
I am not very impressed with theological arguments whatever they may be used to support. Such arguments have often been found unsatisfactory in the past. In the time of Galileo it was argued that the texts, 'And the sun stood still... and hasted not to go down about a whole day' (Joshua x. 13) and 'He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not move at any time' (Psalm cv. 5) were an adequate refutation of the Copernican theory.
Alan TuringRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.