Single Idea 24127

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions]

Full Idea

To judge people by intentions! That would be like classifying artists, not according to their paintings, but according to their visions!

Gist of Idea

Judging actions by intentions - like judging painters by their thoughts!

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1884-85 [1884], 25[119])

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Fragments from 1884-85 (v 15)', ed/tr. Loeb,P.S./Tinsley,D.F. [Stanford 2022], p.36


A Reaction

What is wrong is to judge an action by any simple single principle. Our nuanced attitude to excuses shows the true complexity of it. 'I didn't mean to do that'.