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Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1884-85 [1884], 25[119])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