--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before thy undertaking of any design…" description: "\"Before thy undertaking of any design, weigh the glory of thy action with the danger of the attempt; if the glory outweigh the danger, it is cowardice t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/francis-quarles-1740_action_before-thy-undertaking-of-any-design-wei_2286291.png" --- # Before thy undertaking of any design, weigh the glory of… ![“Before thy undertaking of any design, weigh the glory of thy action with the danger of the attempt; if the glory outweigh the danger, it is cowardice to neglect it; if the danger exceed the glory, it is rashness to attempt it; if the balances stand poised, let thy own genius cast them.” quote by Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/francis-quarles-1740_action_before-thy-undertaking-of-any-design-wei_2286291.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/francis-quarles-1740_action_before-thy-undertaking-of-any-design-wei_2286291.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ad/francis-quarles-1740_action_before-thy-undertaking-of-any-design-wei_2286291.png) > “Before thy undertaking of any design, weigh the glory of thy action with the danger of the attempt; if the glory outweigh the danger, it is cowardice to neglect it; if the danger exceed the glory, it is rashness to attempt it; if the balances stand poised, let thy own genius cast them.” [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Weigh the benefits and risks of any action before deciding; balance determines whether to act, avoid, or trust intuition. **In simple terms:** Consider pros and cons before acting. Key Takeaway Act only when benefit outweighs risk. Themes decision making risk assessment balance Mood cautious analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business ventures - personal projects - creative endeavors - public policy Key Concepts ethics intuition strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What criteria do you use to weigh risk versus reward? - How do you handle uncertainty? A Different Perspective Risk assessment can be subjective and may miss hidden dangers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) ## Related quotes > [What we attempt to do is not without danger. What we attempt to do may not succeed. But it is right and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mosse/what-we-attempt-to-do-is-not-without-danger-what-we-attempt-to-do-may/) [Kate Mosse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mosse/) > [Rashness is the companion of youth, prudence of old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/rashness-is-the-companion-of-youth-prudence-of-old-age/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [My worst and best qualities are rashness: the good part of it is due to youth, which is, of course, why I'm not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rattle/my-worst-and-best-qualities-are-rashness-the-good-part-of-it-is-due/) [Simon Rattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rattle/) > [Rashly, And praised be rashness for it--let us know, Our indiscretion sometime serves us well When our deep plots do pall, and that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/rashly-and-praised-be-rashness-for-it-let-us-know-our-indiscretion/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A certain degree of fear produces the same effects as rashness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/a-certain-degree-of-fear-produces-the-same-effects-as-rashness/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Indiscretion, rashness, falsehood, levity, and malice, produce each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/indiscretion-rashness-falsehood-levity-and-malice-produce-each-other/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [It is the long term investor who will in practice come in for the most criticism. For it is the essence of his behaviour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/it-is-the-long-term-investor-who-will-in-practice-come-in-for-the/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance go forward and give us victories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/beware-of-rashness-but-with-energy-and-sleepless-vigilance-go-forward/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [None are rash when they are not seen by anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/none-are-rash-when-they-are-not-seen-by-anybody/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [I know no real worth but that tranquil firmness which seeks dangers by duty, and braves them without rashness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/i-know-no-real-worth-but-that-tranquil-firmness-which-seeks-dangers/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [Reckless haste makes poor speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/reckless-haste-makes-poor-speed/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Rashness is oftener the resort of cowardice than of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-of-wellington/rashness-is-oftener-the-resort-of-cowardice-than-of-courage/) [Duke of Wellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-of-wellington/) > [True valor lies in the middle between cowardice and rashness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/true-valor-lies-in-the-middle-between-cowardice-and-rashness/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Now see what a Christian is, drawn by the hand of Christ. He is a man on whose clear and open brow God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/now-see-what-a-christian-is-drawn-by-the-hand-of-christ-he-is-a-man/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Intemperance is naturally punished with diseases; rashness, with mischance; injustice; with violence of enemies; pride, with ruin; cowardice, with oppression; and rebellion, with slaughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/intemperance-is-naturally-punished-with-diseases-rashness-with/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) ## More by Francis Quarles > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/what-treasures-here-do-mammon-s-sons-behold-yet-know-that-all-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/meditation-is-the-life-of-the-soul-action-the-soul-of-meditation-and/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/i-wish-thee-as-much-pleasure-in-the-reading-as-i-had-in-the-writing/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-fountain-of-beauty-is-the-heart-and-every-generous-thought/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowledge descries; wisdom applies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/knowledge-descries-wisdom-applies/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/read-not-books-alone-but-men-and-amongst-them-chiefly-thyself/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Explore all 212 Francis Quarles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. 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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