Edward Gibbon Quotes

When men know not what to do, they ought not to do they know not what

People who think too much before they act don't act too much.

I have hesitation making any kind of decision, really in my life. I'm really slow at it.

[Referring to Jimmy Carter:] Jimmy's basic problem is that he's super cautious. He looks before and after he leaps.

Inaction saps the vigor of the mind.

Caution is crediting, and reserve in speaking, and in revealing one's self to but very few, are the best securities both of a good understanding with the world, and of the inward peace of our own minds.

Folks as have no mind to be o' use have allays the luck to be out o' the road when there's anything to be done.

Vagueness and procrastination are ever a comfort to the frail in spirit.

I knew someone had to take the first step. So I made up my mind not to move.

If you hesitate to map out your future, to make a big plan or to set a goal, you've just gone ahead and mapped your future anyway.

I never make my mind up about anything at all, until it's over and done with.

What is easy to do is also easy not to do.

A man was desired to rise from bed because the sun was already up. He replied: "If I had as far to go and as much to do as he has, I should be up by now; but having but a little way to go, I shall not get up yet."

Well, if you're waitin' for a woman to make up her mind, you may have a a long wait.

If the world is a progressively realized community of interpretation, then either quadruplictity will drink procrastination or, provided that the nothing negates, boredom will ensue seldom more often than frequently.

Action without intelligence is a form of insanity, but intelligence without action is the greatest form of stupidity in the world.

I'm really paying attention. People make up their minds late.

Sloth is sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good...it is evil in its effect, if it so oppresses man as to draw him away entirely from good deeds.

I may say it of our preposterous use of books,--He knew not what to do, and so he read.

When you're tired, you rationalize. You make excuses in your mind. You say, "I'm too tired; I'm bushed; I can't do this; I'll loaf." Then you're a coward.

A lobster, when left high and dry among the rock, does not have the sense enough to work his way back to the sea, but waits for the sea to come to him. If it does not come, he remains where he is and dies, although the slightest effort would enable him to reach the waves, which are perhaps within a yard of him. The world is full of human lobsters; people stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat.

Allow time and moderate delay; haste manages all things badly.

It is no use running; to set out betimes is the main point.

of all the follies that we can commit, the greatest is to hesitate.

The real gap is between doing nothing and doing something.