On Intentions
A good way to always try to view the actions of other people is to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume in their situation with the knowledge that they have they are trying to make the most rational decisions that they can, that they are acting in their own self interest. So while I did not like her as a CEO, I still try to think that there are reasons for her actions, she is under certain constraints, and she is trying to act in a rational way around those constraints. From her own self interest, rational in a I’m a person what am I going to do in this situation kind of way.
— CGP Grey on Ellen Pao @ Reddit
Edit to Self: See also, the Local Rationality Principle.