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When confronted with two courses of action I jot down on a…

“When confronted with two courses of action I jot down on a piece of paper all the arguments in favor of each one, then on the opposite side I write the arguments against each one. Then by weighing the arguments pro and con and cancelling them out, one against the other, I take the course indicated…” quote by Benjamin Franklin
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“When confronted with two courses of action I jot down on a piece of paper all the arguments in favor of each one, then on the opposite side I write the arguments against each one. Then by weighing the arguments pro and con and cancelling them out, one against the other, I take the course indicated by what remains.”

Benjamin Franklin

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He uses a pros‑cons list to objectively compare options, aiming to let the strongest arguments guide decision‑making.

In simple terms: Write pros and cons to decide.

Key Takeaway

Use structured analysis for choices.

Themes

decision‑making logic clarity

Mood

analytical pragmatic

Type

methodical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • personal decisions
  • business strategy
  • policy formulation
  • risk assessment

Key Concepts

critical thinking cost‑benefit analysis

Questions to Reflect On

  • What criteria weight arguments?
  • How to handle equally balanced options?
A Different Perspective

Complex decisions may need more than simple tallying.

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