--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Indecision and delays are the parents of…" description: "\"Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.\" — George Canning" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/george-canning-29391_failure_indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of_317230.png" --- # Indecision and delays are the parents of failure. ![“Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.” quote by George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/george-canning-29391_failure_indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of_317230.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/george-canning-29391_failure_indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of_317230.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/george-canning-29391_failure_indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of_317230.png) > “Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.” [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Indecision and delays cause failure by preventing timely action. **In simple terms:** Delay leads to failure. Key Takeaway Act promptly, avoid procrastination. Themes decision‑making timing failure productivity leadership Mood motivational urgent pragmatic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - business projects - personal goals - emergency response - political negotiations - creative work Key Concepts behavioral economics risk management strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What decisions are you postponing? - How can you balance speed and caution? A Different Perspective Sometimes rapid decisions can be reckless without proper analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Indecision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indecision/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) ## Related quotes > [“Succes has many parents but, failure is an orphan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obameso-sunkanmi/succes-has-many-parents-but-failure-is-an-orphan/) [Obameso Sunkanmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obameso-sunkanmi/) > [Prudence is not hesitation, procrastination, or moderation. It is not driving in the middle of the road. It is not the way of ambivalence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/prudence-is-not-hesitation-procrastination-or-moderation-it-is-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Lack of confidence, sometimes alternating with unrealistic dreams of heroic success, often leads to procrastination, and many studies suggest that procrastinators are self-handicappers: rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/lack-of-confidence-sometimes-alternating-with-unrealistic-dreams-of/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [Don't be afraid of failure, be afraid of not trying in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/don-t-be-afraid-of-failure-be-afraid-of-not-trying-in-the-first-place/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [“Sounds like a great place to get killed. Hard pass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-lanzing/sounds-like-a-great-place-to-get-killed-hard-pass/) [Jackson Lanzing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-lanzing/) > [Luckily, even as a young man not yet become himself, John Bridgens had two things besides indecision that kept him from self-destruction - books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/luckily-even-as-a-young-man-not-yet-become-himself-john-bridgens-had/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“To him, a stilted geometric love of arrangement was “system,” and indefatigable and feverish interest in the pettiest facets of day-to-day bureaucracy was “industry”,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/to-him-a-stilted-geometric-love-of-arrangement-was-system-and/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“The past tense of regret is indecision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/welcome-to-nightvale-podcast/the-past-tense-of-regret-is-indecision/) Welcome to Nightvale Podcast > [Indecision is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-is-a-decision/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing we don't do together is get in front of an actor and show any indecision at all about what we think.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-farrelly/the-only-thing-we-don-t-do-together-is-get-in-front-of-an-actor-and/) [Bobby Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-farrelly/) > [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Follow your heart, but don't leave your brain behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-van-zyl/follow-your-heart-but-don-t-leave-your-brain-behind/) [Matthew Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-van-zyl/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) ## More by George Canning > [In matters of commerce the fault of the Dutch Is offering too little and asking too much. The French are with equal advantage content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/in-matters-of-commerce-the-fault-of-the-dutch-is-offering-too-little/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [Needy knife-grinder! whither are ye going? Rough is the road, your wheel is out of order; Bleak blows the blast-your hat has got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/needy-knife-grinder-whither-are-ye-going-rough-is-the-road-your-wheel/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [I called the New World into existence, to redress the balance of the Old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/i-called-the-new-world-into-existence-to-redress-the-balance-of-the/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [There is nothing I know of so sublime as a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/there-is-nothing-i-know-of-so-sublime-as-a-fact/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [Give me the avowed, the erect, the manly foe, bold I can meet, perhaps may turn his blow! But of all plagues, good Heavens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/give-me-the-avowed-the-erect-the-manly-foe-bold-i-can-meet-perhaps/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [A steady patriot of the world alone, The friend of every country but his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/a-steady-patriot-of-the-world-alone-the-friend-of-every-country-but/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [Whene'er with haggard eyes I view This dungeon that I'm rotting in, I think of those companions true Who studied with me at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/whene-er-with-haggard-eyes-i-view-this-dungeon-that-i-m-rotting-in-i/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [I can prove anything by statistics except the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/i-can-prove-anything-by-statistics-except-the-truth/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [Active beneficence is a virtue of easier practice than forbearance after having conferred, or than thankfulness after having received a benefit. I know not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/active-beneficence-is-a-virtue-of-easier-practice-than-forbearance/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [If hush'd the loud whirlwind that ruffled the deep, The sky if no longer dark tempests deform; When our perils are past shall our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/if-hush-d-the-loud-whirlwind-that-ruffled-the-deep-the-sky-if-no/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [Intimately concerned as we are with the system of Europe, it does not follow that we are therefore called upon to mix ourselves onevery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/intimately-concerned-as-we-are-with-the-system-of-europe-it-does-not/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [But of all plagues, good Heaven, thy wrath can send, Save me, oh, save me, from the candid friend!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/but-of-all-plagues-good-heaven-thy-wrath-can-send-save-me-oh-save-me/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [Here's to the pilot that weathered the storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/here-s-to-the-pilot-that-weathered-the-storm/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/when-our-perils-are-past-shall-our-gratitude-sleep/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) > [Away with the cant of 'Measures not men!'-the idle supposition that it is the harness and not the horses that draw the chariot along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/away-with-the-cant-of-measures-not-men-the-idle-supposition-that-it/) [George Canning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) [Explore all 18 George Canning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Canning" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of-failure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of-failure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/george-canning-29391_failure_indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of_317230.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/george-canning-29391_failure_indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of_317230.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/george-canning-29391_failure_indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of_317230.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.” — George Canning", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Canning", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-canning/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Indecision and delays are the parents...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of-failure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-canning/indecision-and-delays-are-the-parents-of-failure/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```