To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.
Interpretation
Judgments about a person are often shaped by personal preferences rather than objective truth.
Petrarch reflects on the nature of judgment, suggesting that people's opinions about one another are largely subjective. He implies that, regardless of the reality of a person's character or actions, individuals will often form impressions based on their personal biases and preferences, resulting in varied and extreme opinions that may not align with the truth.
In practice
During a speech about personal growth, one might reference this quote to illustrate how perceptions can be misleading.
Gold, silver, jewels, purple garments, houses built of marble, groomed estates, pious paintings, caparisoned steeds, and other things of this kind offer a mutable and superficial pleasure; books give delight to the very marrow of one's bones. They speak to us, consult with us, and join with us in a living and intense intimacy.
Five enemies of peace inhabit with us - avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.
Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together.
True, we love life, not because we are used to living, but because we are used to loving. There is always some madness in love, but there is also always some reason in madness.
I looked back at the summit of the mountain, which seemed but a cubit high in comparison with the height of human contemplation, were in not too often merged in the corruptions of the earth.
Sameness is the mother of disgust, variety the cure.
I do not know how to make a man think seriously about sin and judgment, and must look to the work of the Holy Spirit for any hint of such a working.
Whatever one does for a living, three questions need to be confronted before it is too late: What really matters to me? What price do my spouse and kids pay for my career success? What price does my soul pay?
Now see that noble and most sovereign reason, Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh.
A noble person is mindful and thankful for the favors he receives from others.
It is one of the beautiful compensations in this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
That one plant should be sown and another be produced cannot happen; whatever seed is sown, a plant of that kind even comes forth.
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