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Century Quote by H. G. Wells

“In England we have come to rely upon a comfortable time-lag of fifty years or a century intervening between the perception that something ought to be done and a serious attempt to do it.” quote by H. G. Wells
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“In England we have come to rely upon a comfortable time-lag of fifty years or a century intervening between the perception that something ought to be done and a serious attempt to do it.”

H. G. Wells

About This Quote

Society often delays action for decades, waiting for a comfortable gap between recognizing a problem and attempting to solve it.

In simple terms: People postpone solving problems for long periods.

Key Takeaway

Act promptly when issues are identified.

Themes

procrastination policy change

Mood

critical reflective

Type

analytical political

When to use this quote

  • government
  • environment
  • technology

Key Concepts

institutional inertia future planning

Questions to Reflect On

  • What drives long‑term delays?
  • How can we shorten the action gap?
A Different Perspective

May ignore urgent crises that need immediate response.

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