--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us not decide what is good, but let…" description: "\"Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.\" — Gilbert K. Chesterton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_decide_let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-i_2261968.png" --- # Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered… ![“Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.” quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_decide_let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-i_2261968.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_decide_let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-i_2261968.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_decide_let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-i_2261968.png) > “Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.” [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote advises against imposing moral judgments prematurely; sometimes it is better to refrain from deciding what is good. **In simple terms:** Avoid premature moral judgments. Key Takeaway Practice restraint before judging. Themes ethics decision making humility Mood contemplative cautious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal relationships - political policy - ethical committees - conflict mediation Key Concepts moral philosophy prudence Questions to Reflect On - When is it wiser to act than to wait? - What criteria help determine when to decide? A Different Perspective Indecision can lead to missed opportunities for positive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [The great and the good will decide what is good for us and make sure that we get what is good for us, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/the-great-and-the-good-will-decide-what-is-good-for-us-and-make-sure/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [Sometimes people leave you Halfway through the wood Others may decieve you You decide what's good You decide alone But no one is alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/sometimes-people-leave-you-halfway-through-the-wood-others-may-2/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Others may decieve you - you decide what's good. You decide alone, but no one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/sometimes-people-leave-you-halfway-through-the-wood-others-may/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I want to go to London and let them decide if I am any good or not. New York is too soft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-escola/i-want-to-go-to-london-and-let-them-decide-if-i-am-any-good-or-not/) [Cole Escola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-escola/) > [It's the people's Supreme Court, and we should let them decide its direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/it-s-the-people-s-supreme-court-and-we-should-let-them-decide-its/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [“Whenever you can, swap “Let’s think about it” for “Let’s decide on it.” Commit to making decisions. Don’t wait for the perfect solution. Decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/whenever-you-can-swap-let-s-think-about-it-for-let-s-decide-on-it/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [Don't underestimate the people. Let them decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thaksin-shinawatra/don-t-underestimate-the-people-let-them-decide/) [Thaksin Shinawatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thaksin-shinawatra/) > [“Make decisions that will benefit you and family. Don’t let anyone decide for you. It’s your future that is at stake. It’s time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piro-j-m/make-decisions-that-will-benefit-you-and-family-don-t-let-anyone/) [Piro J.M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piro-j-m/) > [“do not let others decide how much you blow your decide where you want to raise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-barrenechea/do-not-let-others-decide-how-much-you-blow-your-decide-where-you-want/) Alejandro Barrenechea > [This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-life-is-what-you-make-it-no-matter-what-you-re-going-to-mess-up-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Altuve is just so good at that. He can decide halfway to the plate where he's going to place the ball. I've never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/altuve-is-just-so-good-at-that-he-can-decide-halfway-to-the-plate/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [When you get to a point where you're successful enough that you can say, 'I don't have to take any job anymore,' and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-successful-enough-that-you-can/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [If you're not good looking, you're considered a good actor, you know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/if-you-re-not-good-looking-you-re-considered-a-good-actor-you-know/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [Being a secretary was considered a very good job in those days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/being-a-secretary-was-considered-a-very-good-job-in-those-days/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) > [Knowledge is generally considered a good thing; so, presumably, knowing more about how the U.S. thinks and operates around the world is also good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/knowledge-is-generally-considered-a-good-thing-so-presumably-knowing/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) ## More by Gilbert K. Chesterton > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Youth is always too serious, and just now it is too serious about frivolity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/youth-is-always-too-serious-and-just-now-it-is-too-serious-about/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Tradition does not mean a dead town; it does not mean that the living are dead but that the dead are alive. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tradition-does-not-mean-a-dead-town-it-does-not-mean-that-the-living/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted; precisely because most things are permitted and only a few things forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-is-shorter-to-state-the-things-forbidden-than-the-things-permitted/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [For Scotland has a double dose of the poison called heredity; the sense of blood in the aristocrat, the sense of doom in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/for-scotland-has-a-double-dose-of-the-poison-called-heredity-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [A building is akin to dogma; it is insolent, like dogma. Whether or no it is permanent, it claims permanence, like a dogma. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-building-is-akin-to-dogma-it-is-insolent-like-dogma-whether-or-no/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-triangle-of-truisms-of-father-mother-and-child-cannot-be/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Criticism is only words about words, and of what use are words about such words as these?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/criticism-is-only-words-about-words-and-of-what-use-are-words-about/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place...The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping; not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/what-we-suffer-from-today-is-humility-in-the-wrong-place-the-old/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Plato was only a Bernard Shaw who unfortunately made his jokes in Greek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/plato-was-only-a-bernard-shaw-who-unfortunately-made-his-jokes-in/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The word good has many meanings...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-word-good-has-many-meanings/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/music-with-dinner-is-an-insult-both-to-the-cook-and-the-violinist/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Eugenics asserts that all men must be so stupid that they cannot manage their own affairs; and also so clever that they can manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/eugenics-asserts-that-all-men-must-be-so-stupid-that-they-cannot/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Explore all 868 Gilbert K. Chesterton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More Decide quotes > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [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/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/) [Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [What you believe in, is the life you decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/what-you-believe-in-is-the-life-you-decide/) [Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/) > [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/) Raajni > [I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/i-think-hopefully-we-ve-got-enough-brain-cells-left-to-decide-if-our/) [Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/) Browse all 1,644 Decide quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gilbert K. Chesterton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-it-be-considered-good-not-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decide" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-it-be-considered-good-not-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_decide_let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-i_2261968.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_decide_let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-i_2261968.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_decide_let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-i_2261968.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.” — Gilbert K. Chesterton", "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": "Gilbert K. Chesterton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let us not decide what is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-it-be-considered-good-not-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-it-be-considered-good-not-to/#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 } } ] } ```