--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each must act as he thinks best; and if…" description: "\"Each must act as he thinks best; and if he is wrong, so much the worse for him. We stand on a mountain pass in the midst of whirling snow and blinding ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/james-fitzjames-stephen-29299_death_each-must-act-as-he-thinks-best-and-if-h_597007.jpg" --- # Each must act as he thinks best; and if he is wrong, so… ![“Each must act as he thinks best; and if he is wrong, so much the worse for him. We stand on a mountain pass in the midst of whirling snow and blinding mist through which we get glimpses now and then of paths which may be deceptive. If we stand still we shall be frozen to death. If we take the…” quote by James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/james-fitzjames-stephen-29299_death_each-must-act-as-he-thinks-best-and-if-h_597007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/james-fitzjames-stephen-29299_death_each-must-act-as-he-thinks-best-and-if-h_597007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14e/james-fitzjames-stephen-29299_death_each-must-act-as-he-thinks-best-and-if-h_597007.jpg) > “Each must act as he thinks best; and if he is wrong, so much the worse for him. We stand on a mountain pass in the midst of whirling snow and blinding mist through which we get glimpses now and then of paths which may be deceptive. If we stand still we shall be frozen to death. If we take the wrong road we shall be dashed to pieces. We do not certainly know whether there is any right one. What must we do? Be strong and of a good courage. Act for the best, hope for the best, and take what comes. . . . If death ends all, we cannot meet death better.” [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When faced with uncertain, dangerous choices, we must act decisively despite not knowing the correct path, accepting risk and responsibility for the outcome. **In simple terms:** Act boldly despite uncertainty. Key Takeaway Choose action over paralysis. Themes courage decision‑making uncertainty risk responsibility Mood tense determined reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - mountain expedition - business crisis - personal dilemmas - emergency response Key Concepts existentialism pragmatism Stoicism Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you willing to take when the outcome is unclear? - How do you balance caution with necessary action? A Different Perspective Acting without full knowledge can lead to severe consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Good courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-courage/) [Hope for the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-for-the-best/) [Hoping for the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoping-for-the-best/) [Mist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mist/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snow/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“We stand on a mountain pass in the midst of whirling snow and blinding mist, through which we get glimpses now and then of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fitzjames-stephen/we-stand-on-a-mountain-pass-in-the-midst-of-whirling-snow-and/) Fitzjames Stephen > [Death is not the opposite of life, it is a part of life. 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I shall do justice to the whole country...in all I say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/i-shall-stand-by-the-union-and-by-all-who-stand-by-it-i-shall-do/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Give me but a firm spot on which to stand, and I shall move the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archimedes/give-me-but-a-firm-spot-on-which-to-stand-and-i-shall-move-the-earth/) [Archimedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archimedes/) > [“God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-s-word-will-stand-and-we-shall-get-nothing-by-disputing-it-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [ In a moment comes either death or joyful victory. \[Lat., Horae Momento cita mors venit aut victoria laeta.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/in-a-moment-comes-either-death-or-joyful-victory-lat-horae-momento/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) ## More by James Fitzjames Stephen > [Used with due abstinence, hope acts as a healthful tonic; intemperately indulged, as an enervating opiate. The visions of future triumph, which at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/used-with-due-abstinence-hope-acts-as-a-healthful-tonic-intemperately/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [The things which cannot be adequately represented by words are more important than those which can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/the-things-which-cannot-be-adequately-represented-by-words-are-more/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [Wisdom may be the ultimate arbiter, but is seldom the immediate agent in human affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/wisdom-may-be-the-ultimate-arbiter-but-is-seldom-the-immediate-agent/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [Power and courtly influence form an intoxicating draught even when raised to the lips of an ascetic and a saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/power-and-courtly-influence-form-an-intoxicating-draught-even-when/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [Thus hope, aided by imagination, makes one man a hero, another a somnambulist, and a third a lunatic; while it renders them all enthusiasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/thus-hope-aided-by-imagination-makes-one-man-a-hero-another-a/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [A well-judging man will open his trunk-line of study in such a direction that, while habitually adhering to it, he may enjoy a ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/a-well-judging-man-will-open-his-trunk-line-of-study-in-such-a/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [A liberal conservative is a man who thinks things ought to progress but would rather they remained as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/a-liberal-conservative-is-a-man-who-thinks-things-ought-to-progress/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [To me this question whether liberty is a good or a bad thing appears as irrational as the question whether fire is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/to-me-this-question-whether-liberty-is-a-good-or-a-bad-thing-appears/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [To try to regulate the internal affairs of a family, the relations of love or friendship, or many other things of the same sort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/to-try-to-regulate-the-internal-affairs-of-a-family-the-relations-of/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [“In all important transactions of life we have to take a leap in the dark… If we decide to leave the riddles unanswered, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/in-all-important-transactions-of-life-we-have-to-take-a-leap-in-the/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [To try to make men equal by altering social arrangements is like trying to make the cards of equal value by shuffling the pack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/to-try-to-make-men-equal-by-altering-social-arrangements-is-like/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [Not only are the varieties of morality innumerable, but some of them are conflicting with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/not-only-are-the-varieties-of-morality-innumerable-but-some-of-them/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [Persuasion, indeed, is a kind of force. 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We agree to try strength by counting heads instead of breaking heads, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/parliamentary-government-is-simply-a-mild-and-disguised-form-of/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) [Explore all 18 James Fitzjames Stephen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. 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