Willing or preferring is the same with respect to good and evil, that judging is with respect to truth or falsehood.

Anthony Collins’s quote, "Willing or preferring is the same with respect to good and evil, that judging is with respect to truth or falsehood," suggests that our actions and decisions, whether they pertain to good and evil or truth and falsehood, are closely intertwined with the concept of judgment. Collins draws a parallel between willing or preferring something (which is a personal choice or inclination) and judging something (which involves making a determination about its truth or moral value). The quote implies that both actions—choosing and judging—are equally subjective and rooted in personal values or perspectives.

The quote also reflects on the subjectivity inherent in human behavior, especially when it comes to determining what is good versus what is evil, or what is true versus what is false. Collins suggests that our personal preferences or inclinations about these matters are not entirely based on objective reality, but rather on individual judgments shaped by cultural, moral, and emotional factors. Just as truth and falsehood are not always clear-cut and can vary depending on context or belief, so too are good and evil not always universally agreed upon but are instead influenced by personal and societal beliefs.

The origin of this quote is rooted in Collins's philosophical work, particularly his writings on rationalism and ethics. Collins was a British philosopher in the 17th and 18th centuries, known for his arguments about free will, reason, and the nature of morality. His perspective on good and evil, as well as truth and falsehood, suggests a rationalist view in which human beings are seen as active agents who make decisions based on their reasoning and subjective experiences, rather than on immutable, divine or absolute truths.

Ultimately, Collins’s quote invites us to reflect on the complexity of human decision-making and moral judgment. It emphasizes that the choices we make about good and evil or truth and falsehood are not as straightforward as we might like to think; they are influenced by our own preferences, perceptions, and biases. In this sense, the quote challenges us to recognize the subjective nature of judgment and to approach ethical and philosophical questions with greater awareness of the diverse factors that shape our understanding of the world.