It is not always what we know or analyzed before we make a decision that makes it a great decision. It is what we do after we make the decision to implement and execute it that makes it a good decision.
—C. William Pollard (b.1938) American Businessman
Make a decision that from now on, your thoughts do not run you, you run your thoughts. From now on, your mind is not the captain of your ship, you are the captain of the ship, and your mind works for you.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt that having survived I owe something to the dead. and anyone who does not remember betrays them again.
—Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) Romanian-born American Writer, Professor, Political Activist
Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.
—Paul Tillich (1886–1965) American Lutheran Theologian, Philosopher
Nothing can be more destructive to vigor of action than protracted, anxious fluctuation, through resolutions adopted, rejected, resumed, and suspended, and nothing causes a greater expense of feeling. A man without decision can never be said to belong to himself; he is as a wave of the sea, or a feather in the air which every breeze blows about as it listeth.
—John Foster Dulles (1888–1959) American Republican Public Official, Lawyer
The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
In a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
They made the fatal decision: they’d chosen always the clear, safe course that leads ever downward into stagnation.
—Frank Herbert (1920–86) American Science Fiction Writer
A decision made from fear is always the wrong decision.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
A peacefulness follows any decision, even the wrong one.
—Rita Mae Brown (b.1944) American Writer, Feminist
You can actually shift your thinking in such a way as to make a wrong decision or mistake an impossibility.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
We need to decide that we will not go to war, whatever reason is conjured up by the politicians or the media, because war in our time is always indiscriminate, a war against innocents, a war against children
—Howard Zinn (1924–2010) American Historian, Political Scientist, Social Activist
A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.
—Chinese Proverb
There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision, and for whom the lighting of every cigar, the drinking of every cup, the time of rising and going to bed every day, and the beginning of every bit of work, are subjects of express volitional deliberation.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.
—Amelia Earhart (1897–1937) American Aviator
The acorn becomes an oak by means of automatic growth; no commitment is necessary. The kitten similarly becomes a cat on the basis of instinct. Nature and being are identical in creatures like them. But a man or woman becomes fully human only by his or her choices and his or her commitment to them. People attain worth and dignity by the multitude of decisions they make from day by day. These decisions require courage.
—Rollo May (1909–94) American Philosopher
Quick decisions are unsafe decisions.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Pour the bulk of your time into action, not deciding. The state of indecision is a major time waster. Don’t spend more than 60 seconds in that state if you can avoid it. Make a firm, immediate decision, and move from uncertainty to certainty to action. Let the world tell you when you’re wrong, and you’ll soon build enough experience to make accurate, intelligent decisions.
—Steve Pavlina (b.1971) American Motivational Speaker
Decision is the spark that ignites action. Until a decision is made, nothing happens…. Decision is the courageous facing of issues, knowing that if they are not faced, problems will remain forever unanswered.
—Wilferd Arlan Peterson (1900–95) American Author
All my life, whenever it comes time to make a decision, I make it and forget about it.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Your decision to be, have and do something out of ordinary entails facing difficulties that are out of the ordinary as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
All our final decisions are made in a state of mind that is not going to last.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Somewhere along the line of development we discover what we really are and then we make our real decision for which we are responsible. Make that decision primarily for yourself because you can never really live anyone else’s lie, not even your child’s. The influence you exert is through your own life and what you become yourself.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Everything is something you decide to do, and there is nothing you have to do.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
There is nothing more to be esteemed than a manly firmness and decision of character. I like a person who knows his own mind and sticks to it; who sees at once what, in given circumstances, is to be done, and does it.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Don’t you ever wonder maybe if you took a left turn instead of a right you could be someone different?
—Unknown
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen events, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!”
—William Hutchinson Murray (1913–96) Scottish Mountaineer
Some persons are very decisive when it comes to avoiding decisions.
—Brendan Behan (1923–64) Irish Poet, Novelist, Playwright
An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.
—Edward de Bono (1933–2021) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
When desperate ills demand a speedy cure, distrust is cowardice, and prudence folly.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The inability to make a decision has often been passed off as patience.
—Unknown
No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be….
—Isaac Asimov (1920–92) Russian-born American Writer, Scientist
Frozen in fear, you avoid responsibility because you think your experience is beyond your control. This stance keeps you from making decisions, solving problems, or going after what you want in life.
—David Emerald
Men must be decided on what they will not do, and then they are able to act with vigor in what they ought to do.
—Mencius (c.371–c.289 BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
He that cannot decidedly say, “No,” when tempted to evil, is on the highway to ruin. He loses the respect even of those who would tempt him, and becomes but the pliant tool and victim of their evil designs.
—Joel Hawes
Reconsider, v. To seek a justification for a decision already made.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
It is a poor and disgraceful thing not to be able to reply, with some degree of certainty, to the simple questions, “What will you be?. What will you do?.”
—John Foster Dulles (1888–1959) American Republican Public Official, Lawyer
When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
There are times when a battle decides everything, and there are times when the most insignificant thing can decide the outcome of a battle
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.
—Agnes de Mille (1905–93) American Dancer, Choreographer
When one bases his life on principle, 99 percent of his decisions are already made.
—Unknown
All decision-making is a values-clarifying exercise.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
When, against one’s will, one is high pressured into making a hurried decision, the best answer is always No, because No is more easily changed to Yes, than Yes is changed to No.
—Charles Erwin Wilson (1886–1972) American Businessperson
The more decisions that you are forced to make alone, the more you are aware of your freedom to choose.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright