--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we are ever in doubt about what to do…" description: "\"If we are ever in doubt about what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done.\" — John Lubbock" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-lubbock-8094_doubt_if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do_2046390.png" --- # If we are ever in doubt about what to do, it is a good… ![“If we are ever in doubt about what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done.” quote by John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-lubbock-8094_doubt_if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do_2046390.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-lubbock-8094_doubt_if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do_2046390.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-lubbock-8094_doubt_if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do_2046390.png) > “If we are ever in doubt about what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done.” [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consider future consequences before acting, using tomorrow’s perspective as guide **In simple terms:** Think about what you’ll wish you’d done tomorrow before deciding Key Takeaway Use future-oriented reflection for better choices Themes decision making ethics future planning Mood thoughtful analytical cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal dilemmas - career choices - financial planning - relationship decisions Key Concepts philosophy psychology behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What future outcome would change your current choice? - How reliable is imagined tomorrow’s perspective? A Different Perspective People may overestimate future clarity, leading to paralysis ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Doubt Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt-good-490165/) [Good Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-rule-596616/) [Rule Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-ask-3321492/) [Shall Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-wish-2523250/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [I think we ought to have a new rule: You can ask two questions, and then we can pick the one we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-think-we-ought-to-have-a-new-rule-you-can-ask-two-questions-and/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [“It's an important managerial rule to never ask a question of your directs if you don't intend to honor their answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-horstman/it-s-an-important-managerial-rule-to-never-ask-a-question-of-your/) [Mark Horstman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-horstman/) > [I request reason for your golden rule and ask the why and wherefore of your ten commandments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/i-request-reason-for-your-golden-rule-and-ask-the-why-and-wherefore/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [Let us all so live as we shall wish we had lived when we come to die; for that only is well, that ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-us-all-so-live-as-we-shall-wish-we-had-lived-when-we-come-to-die/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Resolved to live with all my might while I do live, and as I shall wish I had done ten thousand years hence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/resolved-to-live-with-all-my-might-while-i-do-live-and-as-i-shall/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/resolved-that-i-will-live-so-as-i-shall-wish-i-had-done-when-i-come/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [My wish for today is to hold you in my arms someday. 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But it's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/doubt-can-be-good-because-it-means-you-want-to-improve-you-want-to-be/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) > [The main battle is to make people realise that doubt is important. Doubt is good. The 'don't know' answer sometimes is the box you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/the-main-battle-is-to-make-people-realise-that-doubt-is-important/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [A bad relationship can do that, can make you doubt everything good you ever felt about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dionne-warwick/a-bad-relationship-can-do-that-can-make-you-doubt-everything-good-you/) [Dionne Warwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dionne-warwick/) ## More by John Lubbock > [Many of the greatest men have owed their success to industry rather than to cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/many-of-the-greatest-men-have-owed-their-success-to-industry-rather/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Savages have often been likened to children, and the comparison is not only correct but also highly instructive. Many naturalists consider that the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/savages-have-often-been-likened-to-children-and-the-comparison-is-not/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [There can be no merit in believing something which you can neither explain nor understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/there-can-be-no-merit-in-believing-something-which-you-can-neither/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Many savage nations worship trees, and I really think my first feeling would be one of delight and interest rather than of surprise, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/many-savage-nations-worship-trees-and-i-really-think-my-first-feeling/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Many a blessing has been recognized too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/many-a-blessing-has-been-recognized-too-late/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Art trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/art-trains-the-mind-through-the-eye-and-the-eye-through-the-mind-as/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/we-may-sit-in-our-library-and-yet-be-in-all-quarters-of-the-earth/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [“In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/in-truth-people-can-generally-make-time-for-what-they-choose-to-do-it/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [To render ourselves insensible to pain we must forfeit also the possibilities of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/to-render-ourselves-insensible-to-pain-we-must-forfeit-also-the/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [The idle man does not know what it is to enjoy rest, for he has not earned it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/the-idle-man-does-not-know-what-it-is-to-enjoy-rest-for-he-has-not/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [“Our great mistake in education is, as it seems to me, the worship of book-learning–the confusion of instruction and education. We strain the memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/our-great-mistake-in-education-is-as-it-seems-to-me-the-worship-of/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Be cautious, but not too cautious; do not be too much afraid of making a mistake; a man who never makes a mistake will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/be-cautious-but-not-too-cautious-do-not-be-too-much-afraid-of-making/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [This is a great way to become more conscious. Your intention and motives are fundamental to the results you will receive. Set high intentions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/this-is-a-great-way-to-become-more-conscious-your-intention-and/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Exercise of the muscles keeps the body in health, and exercise of the brain brings peace of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/exercise-of-the-muscles-keeps-the-body-in-health-and-exercise-of-the/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Though it is a great mistake to make friends of the wicked and foolish, it is unwise to make enemies of them, for they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/though-it-is-a-great-mistake-to-make-friends-of-the-wicked-and/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) [Explore all 84 John Lubbock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) [Harry Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapman/) > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we are ever in doubt about what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Lubbock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do-it-is-a-good-rule-to-ask/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do-it-is-a-good-rule-to-ask/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-lubbock-8094_doubt_if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do_2046390.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-lubbock-8094_doubt_if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do_2046390.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-lubbock-8094_doubt_if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do_2046390.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we are ever in doubt about what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the…” — John Lubbock", "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": "John Lubbock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we are ever in doubt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do-it-is-a-good-rule-to-ask/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/if-we-are-ever-in-doubt-about-what-to-do-it-is-a-good-rule-to-ask/#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 } } ] } ```