Seek first to understand then to be understood

A good engineer will understand the forces, the stresses at work, before designing the bridge. A good teacher will assess the class before teaching. A good student will understand before he applies. A good parent will understand before evaluating or judging. The key to good judgement is understanding. By judging first, a person will never fully understand.

Seek first to understand is a correct principle evident in all area of life. It's a generic, common denominator principle, nut it has its greatest power in the area of interpersonal relations.