--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who hesitates is sometimes saved." description: "\"He who hesitates is sometimes saved.\" — James Thurber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/james-thurber-1534_saved_he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved-2769_2769745.png" --- # He who hesitates is sometimes saved. ![“He who hesitates is sometimes saved.” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/james-thurber-1534_saved_he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved-2769_2769745.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/james-thurber-1534_saved_he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved-2769_2769745.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/james-thurber-1534_saved_he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved-2769_2769745.png) > “He who hesitates is sometimes saved.” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hesitation can act as a protective pause, preventing rash decisions that might lead to harm. **In simple terms:** Sometimes hesitation saves you. Key Takeaway Pause before acting. Themes caution decision making self‑protection Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - career choices - relationships - financial decisions Key Concepts Psychology risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - When has hesitation helped you? - When did it hold you back? A Different Perspective Excessive hesitation can lead to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hesitates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hesitates/) [Hesitates Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hesitates-saved-3233254/) [Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saved/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [If you wait to approach her, you might be going home alone. It's what they mean by, He who hesitates, masturbates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-wait-to-approach-her-you-might-be-going-home-alone-it-s-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who hesitates in a revolving door is crushed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-hesitates-in-a-revolving-door-is-crushed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who hesitates at war, he who hesitates has lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-hesitates-at-war-he-who-hesitates-has-lost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who hesitates, procreates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-hesitates-procreates/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who hesitates is lunch. Life's risky near the bottom of the food chain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-hesitates-is-lunch-life-s-risky-near-the-bottom-of-the-food/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who hesitates is probably right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-hesitates-is-probably-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Can we go somewhere?" I ask. "Let's go somewhere off in the woods and I'll show you." He hesitates, of course. What if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/can-we-go-somewhere-i-ask-let-s-go-somewhere-off-in-the-woods-and-i/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [A science which hesitates to forget its founders is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/a-science-which-hesitates-to-forget-its-founders-is-lost/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [In the digital world, he who hesitates is abandoned. So you have to generate 3-D excitement with as many devices as you can find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stringer/in-the-digital-world-he-who-hesitates-is-abandoned-so-you-have-to/) [Howard Stringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stringer/) > [“...when life still hesitates to touch us, when neither duty nor guilt dares lay a hand upon us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/when-life-still-hesitates-to-touch-us-when-neither-duty-nor-guilt/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“A science that hesitates to forget its founders is lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/a-science-that-hesitates-to-forget-its-founders-is-lost/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [He who hesitates is lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-hesitates-is-lost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Man is slow because he hesitates”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-conrad/man-is-slow-because-he-hesitates/) [Lance Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-conrad/) > [“I've said it before, love, an Im sorry I have to say it again, but you do not understand the choices I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-said-it-before-love-an-im-sorry-i-have-to-say-it-again-but-you/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [He who hesitates is not only lost, but miles from the next exit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-who-hesitates-is-not-only-lost-but-miles-from-the-next-exit/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. I was brought up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/salvador-dali-was-brought-up-in-spain-a-country-colored-by-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/her-own-mother-lived-the-latter-years-of-her-life-in-the-horrible/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Against the may, the could be, and the should, folly 'tis to balance doubt or hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/against-the-may-the-could-be-and-the-should-folly-tis-to-balance/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“ There was an old coddle so molly, He talked in a glot that was poly, His gaws were so gew That his laps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/there-was-an-old-coddle-so-molly-he-talked-in-a-glot-that-was-poly/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“you might as well fall on your face as lean over too far backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/you-might-as-well-fall-on-your-face-as-lean-over-too-far-backwards/) [james thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I myself have known some profoundly thoughtful dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-myself-have-known-some-profoundly-thoughtful-dogs/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-knows-all-about-art-but-he-doesn-t-know-what-he-likes/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/all-men-should-strive-to-learn-before-they-die-what-they-are-running/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Quick, name some towns in New Jersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/quick-name-some-towns-in-new-jersey/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Looks can be deceiving; it's eating that's believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/looks-can-be-deceiving-it-s-eating-that-s-believing/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“I don’t understand,” said the scientist, “why you lemmings all rush down to the sea and drown yourselves.” “How curious,” said the lemming. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-don-t-understand-said-the-scientist-why-you-lemmings-all-rush-down/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Saved quotes > [“We are saved not because we are worthy. We are saved because we are loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/we-are-saved-not-because-we-are-worthy-we-are-saved-because-we-are/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [When somebody's telling you you're godly and you saved their life, and this and that and the other, I'm going, 'Well, who's saving mine?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/when-somebody-s-telling-you-you-re-godly-and-you-saved-their-life-and/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I think what saved me is me being honest. I think I somewhow had the courage to do something and say something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-what-saved-me-is-me-being-honest-i-think-i-somewhow-had-the/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then give all you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/having-first-gained-all-you-can-and-secondly-saved-all-you-can-then/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [Everyone should say what they wanted. It saved time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gardner/everyone-should-say-what-they-wanted-it-saved-time/) [Lisa Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gardner/) > [“Our mediator claims all of our sins and has paid for them with His blood. He provides all of the good works we need,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edward-veith-jr/our-mediator-claims-all-of-our-sins-and-has-paid-for-them-with-his/) [Gene Edward Veith Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edward-veith-jr/) > [What I'm interested in is to get people saved and to see the power of God spread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/what-i-m-interested-in-is-to-get-people-saved-and-to-see-the-power-of/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [We immerse ourselves in escapist mass entertainment, such as 'reality T.V.' programs. We support fanatical politicians and preachers. Our politicians, in turn, support dictators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/we-immerse-ourselves-in-escapist-mass-entertainment-such-as-reality-t/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [I learned that the world doesn't want to be saved, and it will f\*\*king punch you in the face if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-learned-that-the-world-doesn-t-want-to-be-saved-and-it-will-f-king/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [ To conquer \[our enemies\] we must dare, and dare again, and dare for ever; and thus will France be saved ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-danton/to-conquer-our-enemies-we-must-dare-and-dare-again-and-dare-for-ever/) [Georges Danton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-danton/) > [God Himself supplies the necessary condition to come to Jesus, that's why it is 'sola gratia,' by grace alone, that we are saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-himself-supplies-the-necessary-condition-to-come-to-jesus-that-s/) [R. 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Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) [Browse all 2,084 Saved quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saved/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who hesitates is sometimes saved.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Thurber" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Saved" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/james-thurber-1534_saved_he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved-2769_2769745.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/james-thurber-1534_saved_he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved-2769_2769745.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/james-thurber-1534_saved_he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved-2769_2769745.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who hesitates is sometimes saved.” — James Thurber", "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 Thurber", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who hesitates is sometimes saved.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-who-hesitates-is-sometimes-saved/#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 } } ] } ```