--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If nothing is to be done in the given…" description: "\"If nothing is to be done in the given situation, he must invent plausible reasons for doing nothing; and if something must be done, he must suggest the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/charles-edward-merriam-45682_action_if-nothing-is-to-be-done-in-the-given-si_1379548.png" --- # If nothing is to be done in the given situation, he must… ![“If nothing is to be done in the given situation, he must invent plausible reasons for doing nothing; and if something must be done, he must suggest the something. The unpardonable sin is to propose nothing, when action is imperative.” quote by Charles Edward Merriam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/charles-edward-merriam-45682_action_if-nothing-is-to-be-done-in-the-given-si_1379548.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/charles-edward-merriam-45682_action_if-nothing-is-to-be-done-in-the-given-si_1379548.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/charles-edward-merriam-45682_action_if-nothing-is-to-be-done-in-the-given-si_1379548.png) > “If nothing is to be done in the given situation, he must invent plausible reasons for doing nothing; and if something must be done, he must suggest the something. The unpardonable sin is to propose nothing, when action is imperative.” [Charles Edward Merriam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edward-merriam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When inaction is unacceptable, create justification; when action is needed, propose a solution. **In simple terms:** Don’t stay idle; either explain or act. Key Takeaway Always have a reason or a plan. Themes responsibility decisionmaking action Mood critical analytical Type pragmatic motivational When to use this quote - management - politics - personal crises - project planning Key Concepts ethics leadership Questions to Reflect On - What excuses do you make? - How can you move from justification to execution? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on justification can delay needed action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Imperative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperative/) [Invent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Plausible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible/) [Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propose/) [Propose Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propose-action-4774897/) [Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-propose-4774896/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Suggest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggest/) [Suggest Unpardonable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggest-unpardonable-4774895/) [Unpardonable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpardonable-387289/) [Unpardonable Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpardonable-sin-408993/) ## Related quotes > [I am not sure just what the unpardonable sin is, but I believe it is a disposition to evade the payment of small bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/i-am-not-sure-just-what-the-unpardonable-sin-is-but-i-believe-it-is-a/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [...the unpardonable sin is to be an unpleasant person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-starr-ross/the-unpardonable-sin-is-to-be-an-unpleasant-person/) [Galen Starr Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-starr-ross/) > [The most unpardonable sin in society is independence of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-most-unpardonable-sin-in-society-is-independence-of-thought/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [I still think sincere pessimism the unpardonable sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-still-think-sincere-pessimism-the-unpardonable-sin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Success is the one unpardonable sin against our fellows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/success-is-the-one-unpardonable-sin-against-our-fellows/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Forgiveness is the one unpardonable sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/forgiveness-is-the-one-unpardonable-sin/) [Dorothy L. 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And every week, lo and behold, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/imagine-a-crime-series-in-which-every-week-there-is-a-white-suspect/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is bad enough to be bad, but to be bad in bad taste is unpardonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/it-is-bad-enough-to-be-bad-but-to-be-bad-in-bad-taste-is-unpardonable/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [People will forgive anything but beauty and talent. So I am doubly unpardonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whistler/people-will-forgive-anything-but-beauty-and-talent-so-i-am-doubly/) [James Whistler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whistler/) > [“But in such cases as these a good memory is unpardonable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/but-in-such-cases-as-these-a-good-memory-is-unpardonable/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## More by Charles Edward Merriam > [Chicago is unique. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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