Someone in my office subscribes to The Oprah Magazine and kindly shares old copies with everyone.  I was flipping through one and read this:

Be careful how you judge others… As Scottish author J.M. Barrie said, “Never ascribe to an opponent motives meaner than your own.” We tend to judge others based on their behavior, and ourselves based on our intent. In almost all situations, we would do well to recognize the possibility - even probability - of good intent in others… sometimes despite their observable behavior.

- Stephen M.R. Covey in The Speed of Trust (Free Press)

I agree that it’s true, but it’s also hard to do.  How can you know someone’s intent except through observable behavior?  If you know someone well enough to be a good, kind person, then if s/he does something that seems out of character then this does apply.  The intent was probably not malicious.  However, if there’s a controlling spouse who thinks it’s for the best, that seems unjustifiable.  Good intentions or not.  I guess the caveat to consider would be mental stability or saneness.  Still, I can’t help but like what was written.       

 I like the magazine too.