Are you prepared to make a judgment?

"'It drives me mad to hear people say: 'Don't be judgmental.' That's moral philosophy at the level of an Australian soap opera. If people weren't judgmental, how could we possibly have a moral viewpoint in society? We wouldn't have the first clue where we were. All rational discourse about what we should do would grind to a half. No, whtever you do, don't fall that weak-minded nonsense about not being judgmental. Don't be excessively judgmental, if you like, but always -- always -- be prepared to make a judgment. Otherwise you'll go through life not really knowing what you mean."

The little tirade above are the words spoken by a fictional Scottish woman in her early 60's in Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith. New York: Anchor Books, 2006. p. 49.