"To judge between good or bad, between successful and unsuccessful would take the eye of a God"

Anton Chekhov’s reflection expresses humility in the face of moral and qualitative judgment, recognizing the vast complexities embedded within human actions and outcomes. Chekhov draws attention to the limitations inherent in the human perspective. He suggests that discerning the difference between good and bad, or separating successful from unsuccessful, is far from a simple matter. Such distinctions are not always clear; they are often clouded by context, subjectivity, and the unpredictable interplay of intention, circumstance, and consequence.

Judgments of morality and success are culturally and personally influenced, shaped by individual experiences, societal standards, and the era in which a person lives. One person’s triumph may be another’s folly; what appears as justice in one set of eyes might seem like transgression in another. Chekhov’s use of “the eye of a God” elevates the act of judgment to a divine plane, implying that only an omniscient being could fully appreciate the myriad of factors at play, past histories, private motives, unseen repercussions, and future unfoldings.

The humility suggested by Chekhov is not simply philosophical restraint but an ethical stance. It cautions against rash conclusions and the presumption of absolute knowing. Instead of quick discernment, Chekhov suggests a reverent patience and awareness of our epistemological boundaries. There is wisdom in holding uncertainty; it encourages empathy and open-mindedness, recognizing others’ complexity and our own fallibility. To “judge” then becomes an act requiring extraordinary insight, one that is rarely, if ever, possible for mortals constrained by limited knowledge and perspective.

By framing judgment as something requiring divine vision, Chekhov ultimately invites a deeper sensitivity to nuance and complexity in human affairs. Life’s ambiguities resist easy categorization. The impact of actions, the intent behind them, and the consequences they spawn are layered and often unknowable in their totality. True understanding, Chekhov proposes, demands humility and reverence before the intricate tapestry of human existence.