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title: Always assume positive intents and intentions in others
created: 2024-12-08T00:59:27
modified: 2025-11-08T06:55:35
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> _“Those who look for the bad in people will surely find it.” — Abraham Lincoln*

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API (Assuming Positive Intent)

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永遠不要預設別人是惡意的

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When assessing someone’s actions, we shouldn’t assume that they acted out of a desire to cause harm _if there’s a reasonable alternative explanation—different beliefs, lack of intelligence, incompetence, or [ignorance](have-the-courage-to-do-the-right-things.md)_.

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When lacking all the facts, assume the best in others.

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Imagine you’re walking along a road and see a dog growling and barking furiously. “What a mean and vicious dog!” you think. But as you get closer, you notice its leg is caught in a trap, torn and bleeding. In an instant, your anger turns to compassion, and all you want is to help.

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Try to interpret whatever people do in the most generous way. See if you feel better as a result.

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[A lack of eye contact doesn’t mean someone is being rude — conditions such as autism, ADHD, PTSD, or social anxiety can make maintaining eye contact difficult during conversations.](https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/hebc6e/ysk_that_lack_of_eye_contact_does_not_mean_that_a/)

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[Judge others by intentions, judge ourselves by actions](judge-others-by-intentions-judge-ourselves-by-actions.md)