Walt Mossberg Quotes

You have to listen to the people who have a negative opinion as well as those who have positive opinion. Just to make sure that you are blending all these opinions in your mind before a decision is made.

I am reluctant to judge things without being informed.

I wish at all events to retain at all times a judicial habit of not condemning a thing utterly until I have heard what is to be said for it.

Any lazy or biased fool can have opinions; making judgments is the hard work of responsible and compassionate people.

If you judge, investigate.

I don't follow anything blindly. I have to know the entire thing, if I have to get in to it. It might sound funny to you, but it's like using English language. I use an English word only when I know its meaning and understand its connotation. You won't hear me say, 'What's up, dude' or anything like that just for the heck of it.

Take heed of critics even when they are not fair; resist them even when they are.

In the hands of good writers, you have the opportunity to present both sides of an opinion equally and that you leave it to the audience to listen and then make up their own minds.

Scepticism is as important for a good journalist as it is for a good scientist.

If something is wrong, it'll prove to be wrong in the wash, and if it's right, you don't want to not expose yourself to it - so I read everything, no matter how horrible it gets. You listen and take it in and if it doesn't sway you, you'll know you considered it.

No one should be so precious as to refuse criticism of their work. But to respect an opinion, we have to know that it was given honestly and with proper thought.

I have to be able to be honest and be credible, and I think I can say, 'This guy did not have his best game today' rather than, 'He is awful and I cannot believe he did that.'

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.

Every truth has two sides; it is as well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either.

No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.

If we bring not the good courage of minds covetous of truth, and truth only, prepared to hear all things, and decide upon all things, according to evidence, we should do more wisely to sit down contented in ignorance, than to bestir ourselves only to reap disappointment.

We have no right to express an opinion until we know all of the answers.

If you would be a good judge, hear what every one says.

I try to play each ball on its merit.

I'm not one of those people who easily judges something or someone.

It matters that we have balance and facts and push people when they need to be pushed so that we can give the accurate, fair, balanced piece to the viewer, and then it's up to the viewer to be the judge.

With the experience to judge, one need not pre-judge.

We are not sure we are right until we have made the best case possible for those who are wrong.

I consider myself to be a relatively sceptical person. I like to see evidence for myself, and try to avoid speculating beyond available evidence. But I also have to accept some things on trust.

Over the years, I paid careful attention in client meetings and jotted down things that quite didn't make sense. And I had the courage to raise questions and to be skeptical when something didn't add up.