It is unity that doth enchant me. By her power I am free though thrall, happy in sorrow, rich in poverty, and quick even in death.
It may be you fear more to deliver judgment upon me than I fear judgment.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Judgment can be daunting, and sometimes it is the one judging who feels more fear than the one being judged.
This quote by Giordano Bruno suggests that the act of judging can be fraught with fear and doubt, often more so for the judge than for the judged. It implies a profound reflection on the nature of judgment itself, where the fear of making a wrong judgment or the weight of responsibility can overshadow the fear of being judged by others. This perspective invites us to contemplate not only our own fears but also the burdens we place on others when we assume the role of judge.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on personal growth, someone might quote this to highlight the challenges of making decisions.
More from Giordano Bruno
All quotes βIn space there are countless constellations, suns and planets; we see only the suns because they give light; the planets remain invisible, for they are small and dark. There are also numberless earths circling around their suns.
I who am in the night will move into the day.
There is in the universe neither center nor circumference.
Desire urges me on, while fear bridals me.
Since I have spread my wings to purpose high,_x000D_ The more beneath my feet the clouds I see,_x000D_ The more I give the winds my pinions free,_x000D_ Spurning the earth and soaring to the sky.
Similar quotes
We are all pencils in the hand of God.
Words can make the illness a subject I can master, and not one that one simply emotes over.
Heaven but the vision of fulfilled desire, and Hell the shadow from a soul on fire.
Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry is own weight, this is a frightening prospect.
I loved every second of Catholic church. I loved the sickly sweet rotting-pomegranate smells of the incense. I loved the overwrought altar, the birdbath of holy water, the votive candles; I loved that there was a poor box, the stations of the cross rendered in stained glass on the windows.
The rashness of the persecutor hath overspread the rights of the persecuted so that punishment is awarded to him that has gained the victory, the inglorious triumphs, and the man who deserved bonds has carried off the prize.