Haste usually turns upon being late, and may be avoided by a habit like that of Lord Nelson, to which he ascribed his success in life, of always being ten minutes too early.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Whoever is in a hurry shows that the thing he is about is too big for him.—Haste and hurry are very different things.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Haste is of the devil.
—The Holy Quran Sacred Scripture of Islam
Speed is scarcely the noblest virtue of graphic composition, but it has its curious rewards. There is a sense of getting somewhere fast, which satisfies a native American urge.
—James Thurber
Hurry is only good for catching flies.
—Russian Proverb
Haste is not always speed. We must learn to work and wait. This is like God, who perfects his works through beautiful gradations.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
The devil takes a hand in what is done in haste.
—Turkish Proverb
No man who is in a hurry is quite civilized.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
The longest way round is the shortest way home.
—C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) Irish-British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
He is invariably in a hurry. Being in a hurry is one of the tributes he pays to life.
—Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945) English Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist
Make haste slowly.
—Common Proverb
Nature never hurries, yet everything is accomplished.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Fraud and deceit are ever in a hurry.—Take time for all things.—Great haste makes great waste.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.
—A. A. Milne (1882–1956) British Humorist, Playwright, Children’s Writer
No two things differ more than hurry and dispatch. Hurry is the mark of a weak mind, dispatch of a strong one. A weak man in office, like a squirrel in a cage, is laboring eternally, but to no purpose, and is in constant motion without getting on a job; like a turnstile, he is in everybody’s way, but stops nobody; he talks a great deal, but says very little; looks into everything but sees nothing; and has a hundred irons in the fire, but very few of them are hot, and with those few that are, he only burns his fingers.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
He bites his tongue who speaks in haste.
—Turkish Proverb
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.
—Francis de Sales (1567–1622) French Catholic Saint
Modest wisdom plucks me from over-credulous haste.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Haste trips its own heels, and fetters and stops itself.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
If you must be in a hurry, then let it be according to the old adage, and hasten slowly.
—Vincent de Paul (1581–1660) French Catholic Saint
I may be accused or rashness, but not sluggishness.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Haste and rashness are storms and tempests, breaking and wrecking business; but nimbleness is a full, fair wind, blowing it with speed to the haven.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Unreasonable haste is the direct road to error.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
This strange disease of modern life, with its sick hurry, its divided aims.
—Matthew Arnold (1822–88) English Poet, Critic
Manners require time, and nothing is more vulgar than haste.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Waiting is one of life’s hardships.
—Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler) (b.1970) American Author, Children’s Books
Hurry and cunning are the two apprentices of despatch and skill, but neither of them ever learns the master’s trade.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
It is of no use running; to set out betimes is the main point.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
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