“Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.”
Friar Lawrence cautions Romeo against haste after agreeing to help with the marriage. The warning is pointed in a tragedy driven by hurried decisions.
Worth thinking about twice
Short Wisdom Quotes
Wisdom is not the loudest answer. These concise lines are designed to slow the moment down and make a little more room for judgment.
11 wisdom quotes & sayingsCopy, share, or make an image
A quick answer can hide a slow mistake.
Listen for what the question is really asking.
Character appears in the choices no one celebrates.
Clarity often arrives after the urge to react.
The easiest story is not always the truest one.
What you excuse becomes what you allow.
A boundary is information, not punishment.
Being certain is not the same as being right.
Leave room to be changed by better evidence.
Good judgment remembers the cost to other people.
Choosing and adapting
Use a saying to examine a decision
A useful question beats a final pronouncement
Wisdom sayings can expose a blind spot, but they do not decide which facts matter. Pick a line about patience when you are rushing, or evidence when you feel certain. Then ask what might make that advice inappropriate: waiting can also have a cost.
Try a two-sided journal entry
Use the saying as a heading and write both the case for following it and the exception. This makes a short phrase a starting point for your own judgment.
Example wording
“Leave room to be changed by better evidence.” What evidence am I missing? Who could disagree with me for a good reason? When do I actually need to decide?
Do not use a maxim to end someone else’s argument
A quotation can sound like an appeal to authority when a person is trying to explain a concern. Turn it into an invitation instead.
- Instead of
- Good things come to those who wait.
- Try
- What would we gain by waiting until Friday, and what would we risk losing?
Names and situations in the examples are illustrative. Keep only details and promises that are true for you.
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