--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If, before every action, we were to begin…" description: "\"“If, before every action, we were to begin by weighing up the consequences, thinking about them in earnest, first the immediate consequences, then the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/jos-saramago-208_blame_if-before-every-action-we-were-to-begin_3101476.png" --- # If, before every action, we were to begin by weighing up… ![“If, before every action, we were to begin by weighing up the consequences, thinking about them in earnest, first the immediate consequences, then the probable, then the possible, then the imaginable ones, we should never move beyond the point where our first thought brought us to a halt. The good…” quote by José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/jos-saramago-208_blame_if-before-every-action-we-were-to-begin_3101476.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/jos-saramago-208_blame_if-before-every-action-we-were-to-begin_3101476.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/jos-saramago-208_blame_if-before-every-action-we-were-to-begin_3101476.png) > ““If, before every action, we were to begin by weighing up the consequences, thinking about them in earnest, first the immediate consequences, then the probable, then the possible, then the imaginable ones, we should never move beyond the point where our first thought brought us to a halt. The good and evil resulting from our words and deeds go on apportioning themselves, one assumes in a reasonably uniform and balanced way, throughout all the days to follow, including those endless days, when we shall not be here to find out, to congratulate ourselves or ask for pardon, indeed there are those who claim that this is the much talked of immortality.”” [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We should carefully consider all possible outcomes before acting, recognizing that moral balance unfolds over time beyond our lifespan. **In simple terms:** Think before acting; consequences matter beyond life. Key Takeaway Pause to weigh impacts before decisions. Themes ethics consequence reflection mortality responsibility Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decisions - policy making - environmental planning - financial investments Key Concepts moral philosophy long-term thinking balance Questions to Reflect On - What consequences do you often overlook? - How can you balance caution with decisiveness? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can paralyze action, leading to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) ## Related quotes > [“It was my fault, she sobbed, and it was true, no one could deny it, but it is also true, if this brings her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-was-my-fault-she-sobbed-and-it-was-true-no-one-could-deny-it-but/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [but it is also true, if this brings her any consolation, that if, before every action, we were to begin weighing up the consequences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/but-it-is-also-true-if-this-brings-her-any-consolation-that-if-before/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [When I joined Ford, in the late 1970s, I felt strongly we could not forever be a huge user of natural resources without there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-joined-ford-in-the-late-1970s-i-felt-strongly-we-could-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wondered how many times in my life I had done something just because I wanted to without weighing the consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-wondered-how-many-times-in-my-life-i-had-done-something-just/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [In fine, a life of good or evil, the hope of Heaven or the despair of Hell, Faustus stands as a reminder that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-fine-a-life-of-good-or-evil-the-hope-of-heaven-or-the-despair-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just as there are two sides to every story, there are two sides to every person. 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But we know better. It was the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-beverly-whittemore/most-people-believe-the-apple-merely-represented-knowledge-but-we/) [Miranda Beverly-Whittemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-beverly-whittemore/) ## More by José Saramago > [“We are born, and at that moment, it is as if we had signed a pact for the rest of our life, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/we-are-born-and-at-that-moment-it-is-as-if-we-had-signed-a-pact-for/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I am not a prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-am-not-a-prophet/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [With the passage of time, as well as the social evolution and genetic exchange, we ended up putting our conscience in the color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/with-the-passage-of-time-as-well-as-the-social-evolution-and-genetic/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Al día siguiente no murió nadie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/al-d-a-siguiente-no-muri-nadie/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“E se as histórias para crianças passassem a ser de leitura obrigatória para os adultos? 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