The Power of Not Making Assumptions: Seeking Truth Before Judging

Making assumptions leads to misunderstandings, broken relationships, and missed opportunities. Assumptions create false realities in our minds, causing us to judge others unfairly or act on incomplete information. Instead of assuming, wise individuals ask questions, seek clarity, and approach situations with curiosity rather than certainty. Here are five insightful quotes about avoiding assumptions, paired with a true story that proves why this virtue is essential in life.

A True Story: The Misjudgment of Alan Turing

Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician who cracked the German Enigma code during World War II, was a hero who helped shorten the war and save millions of lives. However, instead of being honored, he was later persecuted due to assumptions about his personal life.

In the 1950s, British law criminalized homosexuality, and Turing was convicted under these laws. Authorities assumed that his private life made him a threat, despite his invaluable contributions to national security. Forced to undergo chemical castration, Turing was ostracized and died under tragic circumstances in 1954.

Years later, when the truth about his achievements became widely recognized, the British government publicly apologized, and he was posthumously pardoned. His story proves the devastating consequences of making assumptions about people without fully understanding who they are.

In 1637, René Descartes wrote about assumptions in Discourse on the Method, urging people to question their own certainty.

If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.

~ René Descartes

In 1884, Mark Twain wrote about the dangers of assumptions in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, highlighting how they lead to prejudice.

It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.

~ Mark Twain

In 1937, Dale Carnegie wrote about assumptions in How to Win Friends and Influence People, showing how they damage relationships.

Instead of condemning people, let’s try to understand them. Let’s try to figure out why they do what they do. That’s a lot more profitable and intriguing than criticism.

~ Dale Carnegie

In 1997, Don Miguel Ruiz wrote about assumptions in The Four Agreements, explaining how they lead to unnecessary suffering.

The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth. We make an assumption, we misunderstand, we take it personally, and we end up creating drama for nothing.

~ Don Miguel Ruiz

In 2018, Brené Brown spoke about assumptions in Dare to Lead, linking them to emotional intelligence and communication.

Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind. When we make assumptions instead of seeking clarity, we create unnecessary pain and distance.

~ Brené Brown

Life Lesson:

Assumptions destroy trust, misguide decisions, and hurt innocent people. Without questioning them, we risk believing things that are simply not true. Alan Turing’s story reminds us that assumptions can lead to grave injustices, affecting not just individuals but entire societies. Instead of assuming, ask. Instead of judging, seek understanding. The truth is rarely what we expect—it is almost always deeper, more complex, and worth discovering.