Should we judge a man by his questions, or by his answers?

Question

"Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers." VOLTAIRE

I was curious if anyone agrees with this statement.

Answer 1

Imagine this.
1. A man asking horrible questions and giving excellent answers.

2. A man asking excellent questions and giving horrid answers.

3. A man asking stupid questions and giving equally stupid answers.

4. A man asking splendid questions and giving excellent answers.

So? What do you think?

I think you should judge a person by his questions as well as his answers. That way you can develop a much better, more rounded opinion of him.

Answer 2

If I was only allowed to choose between the two I would have to base my opinion of someone on their answers because I think they paint a better picture of what kind of person someone ise. It can't be absed purely on that of course. I can think of several times when I made a true and lasting opinion about someone based on the questions they asked. For example..a few years ago while at Thanksgiving dinner my 23 year old cousin (a guy) stopped eating and asked his mother (my aunt) how long an elephant is pregnant for. Not your normal dinner holiday dinner conversation..plus I would have at least formed the question like "how long is the gestation period of an elephant?" Anyway, his mother stops eating ( she coddled him his whole life by the way) and looks up with a wrinkled brow as if in deep thought, then a few moments later turns to her husband and asks him the question. I'm glad he is my blood relation and not that women, cause he just shook his head and kept eating..lol Anyway, it's my opinion that both questions and answers can tell you alot about a person..not everything..but alot. In this case it told me that my cousin is a simpleton. I guess that's why he is 33 now and still lives at home.

Answer 3

Voltaire was an interesting and provocative person. The meaning of the statement has little to do with questions and answers and is designed to question authority. Voltaire has been identified by historians as being outspoken on social reform and lived during a tumultuous political period in France. He was also a "scientist" performing experiments and debating theory with people such as Isaac Newton. Therefore; the context of the statement for his period of time as translated to our period should read something akin to "Curiosity of the world and the attempt to find answers is more worthy and acceptance".

Answer 4

I heard that phrase recently on TV and liked the perspective that the statement suggests. We all claim we shouldn't judge but of course we evaluate our impressions of people at different levels relative to whether or not our connection is intended to be personal. professional or from afar. but consider it is the questions that inspire man to go beyond what we think we know that keeps us learning so much.

but yes the idea is an interesting approach to ones character.

Answer 5

Coming up with answers is easy. Developing a well rounded question takes skill. Often you can judge a person's depth of understanding of a topic by the types of questions they ask .

Answer 6

To "answer" is often a self generated assumption that we have the knowledge to answer in a valid way,, and yet might often disputed.

To "question" is never invalid,,,even if we might be thought ignorant, because it suggests that we wish a higher level of enlightenment.

To not question might be an ego centered issue? Possibly blocking personal progress? To continually question is merely a desire to evolve.

Steven Wolf

Answer 7

Any fool can ask questions and many do !
But perhaps Voltaire was looking at the fact that all questions have implicit answers .
Which means that he really judged by answers!

Answer 8

Oh definite, truly! you are able to tell plenty about a guy (or woman) by technique of the inquiries to which they search for solutions. In our solutions, we are navigated, (now and again even spoonfed) what to say ... they are us, suggested. Our questions, notwithstanding, tutor who we are as we search for our personal course. Our solutions are nevertheless very revealing, yet i imagine our questions unveil even extra. the actual incontrovertible truth that *you* ask truly some questions says that you're a somewhat curious man or woman, engaged with life, and positively in touch in others.

Answer 9

Question is more telling, therefore judge a man by his question.

Answer 10

Nah. Judging others for something so superficial as questions and answers is silly. Besides, what if someone writes questions and answers that are both profound and silly?