--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give your decisions, never your reasons…" description: "\"Give your decisions, never your reasons; your decisions may be right, your reasons are sure to be wrong.\" — James Mansfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/james-mansfield-90133_decision-making_give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-y_2746074.jpg" --- # Give your decisions, never your reasons; your decisions… ![“Give your decisions, never your reasons; your decisions may be right, your reasons are sure to be wrong.” quote by James Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/james-mansfield-90133_decision-making_give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-y_2746074.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/james-mansfield-90133_decision-making_give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-y_2746074.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/james-mansfield-90133_decision-making_give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-y_2746074.jpg) > “Give your decisions, never your reasons; your decisions may be right, your reasons are sure to be wrong.” James Mansfield ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Decisions should be made without overreliance on reasons, as reasons can be flawed while decisions may still be correct. **In simple terms:** Make decisions, not overthink reasons. Key Takeaway Trust intuition when reason is uncertain. Themes decision-making intuition confidence Mood pragmatic cautious Type self-help philosophical When to use this quote - business leadership - personal development - risk management - coaching sessions Key Concepts behavioral economics psychology of choice Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust a reason over a gut feeling? - How do you balance analysis with intuition? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on intuition can lead to reckless choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) ## Related quotes > [Decide promptly, but never give any reasons. Your decisions may be right, but your reasons are sure to be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-murray-1st-earl-of-mansfield/decide-promptly-but-never-give-any-reasons-your-decisions-may-be/) [William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-murray-1st-earl-of-mansfield/) > [Decide promptly, but never give any reasons for your decisions. Your decisions may be right, but your reasons are sure to be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-murray-1st-earl-of-mansfield/decide-promptly-but-never-give-any-reasons-for-your-decisions-your/) [William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-murray-1st-earl-of-mansfield/) > [Who is apt, on occasion, to assign a multitude of reasons when one will do? This is a sure sign of weakness in argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-martineau/who-is-apt-on-occasion-to-assign-a-multitude-of-reasons-when-one-will/) [Harriet Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-martineau/) > [If we decide rightly what to do, or use a correct procedure for making such decisions, that has to be because the decisions or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/if-we-decide-rightly-what-to-do-or-use-a-correct-procedure-for-making/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [A man who is certain he is right is almost sure to be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-faraday/a-man-who-is-certain-he-is-right-is-almost-sure-to-be-wrong/) [Michael Faraday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faraday/) > [The worst thing is not being wrong, but being sure one is not wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tournier/the-worst-thing-is-not-being-wrong-but-being-sure-one-is-not-wrong/) [Paul Tournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tournier/) > [The more sure you are, the more wrong you can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/the-more-sure-you-are-the-more-wrong-you-can-be/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [I'm not sure what's wrong...but it's probably your fault!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemant-smarty/i-m-not-sure-what-s-wrong-but-it-s-probably-your-fault/) [Hemant Smarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemant-smarty/) > [I’m sure I am wrong about many things, although I’m not sure exactly which things I’m wrong about. I’m even sure I’m wrong about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-sure-i-am-wrong-about-many-things-although-i-m-not-sure-exactly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I myself used to believe ideas didn't matter that much, but I'm very sure that's wrong now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-myself-used-to-believe-ideas-didn-t-matter-that-much-but-i-m-very/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [We never are definitely right, we can only be sure we are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/we-never-are-definitely-right-we-can-only-be-sure-we-are-wrong/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [At the end of the day, everybody has to take the right decisions for the right reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-pallonji-mistry/at-the-end-of-the-day-everybody-has-to-take-the-right-decisions-for/) [Cyrus Pallonji Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-pallonji-mistry/) > [Life teaches you that you need to make decisions in the right time - not too early, not too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/life-teaches-you-that-you-need-to-make-decisions-in-the-right-time/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [“You get only two or three important choices in life. What job you do, whom you marry. Those are big decisions. If you’re right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/you-get-only-two-or-three-important-choices-in-life-what-job-you-do/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [“Sometimes we make decisions that seem right at the time, but later, looking back, were clearly a mistake. Some decisions are right even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-santopolo/sometimes-we-make-decisions-that-seem-right-at-the-time-but-later/) [Jill Santopolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-santopolo/) ## More by James Mansfield > [The air of England has long been too pure for a slave, and every man is free who breathes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mansfield/the-air-of-england-has-long-been-too-pure-for-a-slave-and-every-man/) James Mansfield Explore all 2 James Mansfield quotes ## More Decision making quotes > [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/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“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/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) Rajnish Borah > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) [Browse all 4,912 Decision making quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Give your decisions, never your reasons; your decisions may be right, your reasons are sure to be wrong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Mansfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mansfield/give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-your-decisions-may-be-right/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision making" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mansfield/give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-your-decisions-may-be-right/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/james-mansfield-90133_decision-making_give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-y_2746074.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/james-mansfield-90133_decision-making_give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-y_2746074.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/james-mansfield-90133_decision-making_give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-y_2746074.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Give your decisions, never your reasons; your decisions may be right, your reasons are sure to be wrong.” — James Mansfield", "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": "James Mansfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mansfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Give your decisions, never your reasons;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mansfield/give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-your-decisions-may-be-right/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mansfield/give-your-decisions-never-your-reasons-your-decisions-may-be-right/#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 } } ] } ```