The labor of thinking was so great to me, that having once…
“The labor of thinking was so great to me, that having once come to a conclusion upon any subject, I would rather persist in it, right or wrong, than be at the trouble of going over the process again to revise and rectify my judgment.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author prefers sticking with an initial conclusion, even if flawed, to avoid re‑examining the reasoning process.
In simple terms: People often cling to first ideas to avoid effort of rethinking.
Key Takeaway
Accept that revisiting decisions can improve outcomes.
Themes
decision making
confidence
cognition
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal choices
- academic research
- policy development
- creative projects
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
confirmation bias
intellectual humility
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you reconsider a decision?
- How can you balance confidence with openness?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on first impressions can lead to errors.