--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Would they retreat or move forward? Could…" description: "\"“Would they retreat or move forward? Could they do this thing they were on the verge of doing? Did they have it in them to make a wrong decision just b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/247/emily-giffin-938_decision_would-they-retreat-or-move-forward-could_1500895.jpg" --- # Would they retreat or move forward? Could they do this… ![“Would they retreat or move forward? Could they do this thing they were on the verge of doing? Did they have it in them to make a wrong decision just because it felt right?” quote by Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/247/emily-giffin-938_decision_would-they-retreat-or-move-forward-could_1500895.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/247/emily-giffin-938_decision_would-they-retreat-or-move-forward-could_1500895.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/247/emily-giffin-938_decision_would-they-retreat-or-move-forward-could_1500895.jpg) > ““Would they retreat or move forward? Could they do this thing they were on the verge of doing? Did they have it in them to make a wrong decision just because it felt right?”” [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character wrestles with doubt, fearing that choosing based on feeling may lead to a wrong decision despite being on the brink of action. **In simple terms:** Fear of making a wrong choice when it feels right. Key Takeaway Weigh options before acting impulsively. Themes decision making uncertainty intuition Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career crossroads - personal relationships - creative projects Key Concepts psychology risk assessment self‑doubt Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your gut feeling? - How can you test a decision before committing? A Different Perspective Impulses can be misleading; rational analysis may be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Move forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-forward/) [Wrong decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-decision/) ## Related quotes > [“If certain places you came to in life felt right, then how many others were just as clearly the wrong place to be?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-russell/if-certain-places-you-came-to-in-life-felt-right-then-how-many-others/) [Paul Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-russell/) > [If I am old-fashioned, it's not a conscious decision. I just do material that I think is funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/if-i-am-old-fashioned-it-s-not-a-conscious-decision-i-just-do/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [If you're sure you want to spend the rest of your life with someone it shouldn't be a hard decision, you should just KNOW.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-sure-you-want-to-spend-the-rest-of-your-life-with-someone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We didn't talk about the decision at all, which was great, just to get together as friends. The only thing he said to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/we-didn-t-talk-about-the-decision-at-all-which-was-great-just-to-get/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [Deciding to get back together with someone is a complicated and difficult decision. Just remember that the person you are getting back together with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/deciding-to-get-back-together-with-someone-is-a-complicated-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The timing of your decision is just as important as the decision you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-timing-of-your-decision-is-just-as-important-as-the-decision-you/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Once you make a bad decision, well just open up your heart and let it be with no regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-ntuli/once-you-make-a-bad-decision-well-just-open-up-your-heart-and-let-it/) [Simphiwe Ntuli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-ntuli/) > [Love is pretty much a decision anyway. Just like happiness. You can decide to either love someone or not, be happy or not. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caprice-crane/love-is-pretty-much-a-decision-anyway-just-like-happiness-you-can/) [Caprice Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caprice-crane/) > [I had to make a major decision with myself because I just don't think you can do both: try to have a baby career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-had-to-make-a-major-decision-with-myself-because-i-just-don-t-think/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [“Part of making a good decision is just making a decision. You can't always sit and weigh the pros and cons. There just isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-x-burros/part-of-making-a-good-decision-is-just-making-a-decision-you-can-t/) [J.X. Burros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-x-burros/) > [When ever your in a hard situation and you don't know what to do. Making a hard decision or just depressed. Just know everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandag/when-ever-your-in-a-hard-situation-and-you-don-t-know-what-to-do/) AmandaG > [Men like a ref decision because they just want to get back to the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/men-like-a-ref-decision-because-they-just-want-to-get-back-to-the-game/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [Almost any decision is better than no decision -- just keep moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/almost-any-decision-is-better-than-no-decision-just-keep-moving/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [When I feel lost and can't make a decision, I just stop and get quiet. I take a time-out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/when-i-feel-lost-and-can-t-make-a-decision-i-just-stop-and-get-quiet/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [Making a bad decision, that's just one decision, but if you do it over and over again there's no growth. If you can move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/making-a-bad-decision-that-s-just-one-decision-but-if-you-do-it-over/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) ## More by Emily Giffin > [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I think exercise is critical to my writing and an essential way to recharge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-think-exercise-is-critical-to-my-writing-and-an-essential-way-to/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Grab his penis like this, and I guarantee, it’s a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/grab-his-penis-like-this-and-i-guarantee-it-s-a-done-deal/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Well, anyway… it’s over,” I say, realizing that those two words lump me right in with a hoard of naive women who say it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/well-anyway-it-s-over-i-say-realizing-that-those-two-words-lump-me/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [There are two kinds of sorry. There is the sorry imbued with regret. And a pure sorry. The kind that is merely asking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/there-are-two-kinds-of-sorry-there-is-the-sorry-imbued-with-regret/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Throw in the intensity of emotions that come with that bittersweet summer sandwiched between high school graduation and the rest of your life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/throw-in-the-intensity-of-emotions-that-come-with-that-bittersweet/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“You can never be too sure when it comes to things that matter most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/you-can-never-be-too-sure-when-it-comes-to-things-that-matter-most/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“It occurs to me that she is not unique--that all women compare lives. We are aware of whose husband works more, who helps more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/it-occurs-to-me-that-she-is-not-unique-that-all-women-compare-lives/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“I desperately want to feel that way again. To be in a relationship that I’m not trying to script or water down. It’s about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-desperately-want-to-feel-that-way-again-to-be-in-a-relationship/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I always find something in common with my protagonist, particularly when I write in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-always-find-something-in-common-with-my-protagonist-particularly/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [There is no grief like heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/there-is-no-grief-like-heartbreak/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I find my voice and manage to say those three one-syllable words back to him. Words I haven't uttered in a very, very long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-find-my-voice-and-manage-to-say-those-three-one-syllable-words-back/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [i wish i could freeze this moment, somehow delay my final decision, and just hang here in the balance between two places, two worlds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-wish-i-could-freeze-this-moment-somehow-delay-my-final-decision-and/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I try to write about real women, real people - in other words flawed characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-write-about-real-women-real-people-in-other-words-flawed/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“never had a good gut feeling. It wasn’t so much that I didn’t have faith in my team, but that I maintained the truest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/never-had-a-good-gut-feeling-it-wasn-t-so-much-that-i-didn-t-have/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) [Explore all 324 Emily Giffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Would they retreat or move forward? Could they do this thing they were on the verge of doing? 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