Vittorio Alfieri Quotes

We often repent of our first thoughts, and scarce ever of our second.

You can't help but... with 20/20 hindsight, go back and say, 'Look, had we done something different, we probably wouldn't be facing what we are facing today.'

Thought precedes action, action does not always precede thought.

Sometimes you have to marinate instead of making a quick decision. I appreciate my instincts, but my instincts can be dead wrong. Circumspection can give you time.

I'm not a big believer in second-guessing decisions.

Most persons who indulge in second thought don't do much thinking when the subject is presented for first thought.

The best thing in business is to follow your gut. If a decision is not sitting well with you, don't just make it.

In matters of conscience, first thoughts are best. In matters of prudence, last thoughts are best.

When we have 'second thoughts' about something, our first thoughts don't seem like thoughts at all - just feelings.

When I get logical, and I don't trust my instincts - that's when I get in trouble.

Everything I do in my life is very instinctual and in the moment. If I'm attracted to something, that's it. If I have reservations, those don't change till they're resolved. My first impression is how I go.

Throughout my career I have been talked out of things I wanted to do, and when I look back, I think I should have followed my instincts.

Every decision you make in life, not just on the sporting field - a lot of time and energy goes into it. You think things through before you make decisions and you always think the decision you make at the time is going to be the right one.

It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards.

I missed a lot of decisions. At the time of making such a decision, there was no doubt in my mind as to its correctness. However, a second or two later I felt that I erred and wished I could change my original ruling.

You only think of the best comeback when you leave.

You can look back at anything and wish you'd done something differently.

Yes, once—many, many years ago. I thought I had made a wrong decision. Of course, it turned out that I ha been right all along. But I was wrong to have thought I was wrong.

Whenever a question is of some importance, it should not be decided on the day when it is submitted to you. Whenever it is not an urgent one, I make it a rule not to let any question be forced upon my immediate decision; … And even when in my mind I am disposed to accede, still I always keep the papers with me some little time before I return them.

I am always wary of decisions made hastily. I am always wary of the first decision, that is, the first thing that comes to my mind .... This is usually the wrong thing. I have to wait and assess, … taking the necessary time.

I appreciate my instincts, but my instincts can be dead wrong. Circumspection can give you time.

If any successes has come to me, it came because I insisted on thinking things through. That's all I was capable of doing in life, was thinking pretty hard about trying to get the right answer, and then acting on it. I never learned to do anything else.

In any walk of life, it's very easy to judge people's actions in retrospect.

Before coming to this decision to leave the game I had thought about it a lot.

Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.