--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can only make decisions with the…" description: "\"You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time\" — Karin Slaughter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/karin-slaughter-1463_decision_you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-inf_625819.png" --- # You can only make decisions with the information you have… ![“You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time” quote by Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/karin-slaughter-1463_decision_you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-inf_625819.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/karin-slaughter-1463_decision_you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-inf_625819.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/karin-slaughter-1463_decision_you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-inf_625819.png) > “You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time” [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Decision‑making is limited to the data available at the moment, emphasizing the importance of acting with imperfect information. **In simple terms:** You can only decide with the info you have now. Key Takeaway Act with what you know; update later. Themes decision making uncertainty information Mood pragmatic cautious Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - business strategy - emergency response - personal choices Key Concepts cognitive bias risk assessment adaptive thinking Questions to Reflect On - What data could improve this decision? - How do you handle uncertainty? A Different Perspective Overreliance on limited data can lead to poor outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“In life, we make the best decisions we can with the information we have on hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-kamara-umunna/in-life-we-make-the-best-decisions-we-can-with-the-information-we/) Agnes Kamara-umunna > [“Most information is time-consuming, negative, irrelevant to your goals, and outside of your influence. I challenge you to look at whatever you read or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/most-information-is-time-consuming-negative-irrelevant-to-your-goals/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [I think we're all a party to this information all the time. It's every day, in a way we probably weren't a few years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/i-think-we-re-all-a-party-to-this-information-all-the-time-it-s-every/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [I really don't retain information - by the time I arrive wherever I'm going, I already forget what it is that I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-abramovich/i-really-don-t-retain-information-by-the-time-i-arrive-wherever-i-m/) [Roman Abramovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-abramovich/) > [“People give out information all the time. You just have to know who to ask.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-griffin/people-give-out-information-all-the-time-you-just-have-to-know-who-to/) [Laura Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-griffin/) > [I'm old enough to make my own decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-m-old-enough-to-make-my-own-decisions/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [My job as a physician is to make sure I have provided my patients with the best options to make the decisions that affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/my-job-as-a-physician-is-to-make-sure-i-have-provided-my-patients/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [“I learned that once you make a decision, you need to see it through. If you don't, you'll lose faith in yourself, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/i-learned-that-once-you-make-a-decision-you-need-to-see-it-through-if/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [Especially when you're a leader, you have to do the things that aren't the popular choice. But that's fine, you have to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/especially-when-you-re-a-leader-you-have-to-do-the-things-that-aren-t/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [I like to make decisions based on things I'm interested in doing, not what seems like the next move in my quote-unquote career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-like-to-make-decisions-based-on-things-i-m-interested-in-doing-not/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I make almost all the decisions on set and have to deal with all the financial aspects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-make-almost-all-the-decisions-on-set-and-have-to-deal-with-all-the/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [Don't labor forever over the question of how or if you can do it. Studies have shown that the most successful people make decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/don-t-labor-forever-over-the-question-of-how-or-if-you-can-do-it/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Make all your decisions based on how hilarious it would be if you did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/make-all-your-decisions-based-on-how-hilarious-it-would-be-if-you-did/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [We, as individuals, are defined by the choices we make. Some of our decisions can have very significant consequences and totally change the courses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/we-as-individuals-are-defined-by-the-choices-we-make-some-of-our/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [“All you can do is make your decisions based on what you know now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malinda-lo/all-you-can-do-is-make-your-decisions-based-on-what-you-know-now/) [Malinda Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malinda-lo/) ## More by Karin Slaughter > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I've always been drawn to dark stories. I enjoy reading Flannery O'Connor, Patricia Highsmith, and Margaret Mitchell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-dark-stories-i-enjoy-reading-flannery-o/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I love puns. I've been known to turn the car around just to take advantage of a good pun situation. It really is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-love-puns-i-ve-been-known-to-turn-the-car-around-just-to-take/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Usually, when inspiration strikes late, the light of day reveals that I haven't gotten an idea for a book so much as a psychiatric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/usually-when-inspiration-strikes-late-the-light-of-day-reveals-that-i/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“To all the librarians in the world on behalf of all the kids y’all helped grow up to be writers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/to-all-the-librarians-in-the-world-on-behalf-of-all-the-kids-y-all/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“Moon was from somewhere up east, the kind of place where consonants took on a life of their own. In addition to this, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/moon-was-from-somewhere-up-east-the-kind-of-place-where-consonants/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Feminism has been so co-opted, but the fact is, feminism benefits men as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/feminism-has-been-so-co-opted-but-the-fact-is-feminism-benefits-men/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Librarians have always stood up for writers and readers in every kind of community across this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/librarians-have-always-stood-up-for-writers-and-readers-in-every-kind/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“I’ve got to figure out before I die whether I want to be happy or I want to be right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-ve-got-to-figure-out-before-i-die-whether-i-want-to-be-happy-or-i/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Prior to the Civil War, most libraries were either privately owned or housed in universities or churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/prior-to-the-civil-war-most-libraries-were-either-privately-owned-or/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [In the South, we drink the Bible with our mother's milk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/in-the-south-we-drink-the-bible-with-our-mother-s-milk/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [Denise Mina is probably one of the most gifted writers out there, whether it's mystery or literary or whatever label you want to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/denise-mina-is-probably-one-of-the-most-gifted-writers-out-there/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [If there is still an American dream, reading is one of the bootstraps by which we can all pull ourselves up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/if-there-is-still-an-american-dream-reading-is-one-of-the-bootstraps/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I love reading almost as much as I love writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-love-reading-almost-as-much-as-i-love-writing/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“a large chifforobe wedged into a small closet that their mother said they’d have to pay Tom Robinson a nickel to bust up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/a-large-chifforobe-wedged-into-a-small-closet-that-their-mother-said/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) [Explore all 237 Karin Slaughter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) ## More Decision 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/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“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/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [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/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karin Slaughter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-information-you-have-at-the-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-information-you-have-at-the-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/karin-slaughter-1463_decision_you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-inf_625819.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/karin-slaughter-1463_decision_you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-inf_625819.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/karin-slaughter-1463_decision_you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-inf_625819.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time” — Karin Slaughter", "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": "Karin Slaughter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can only make decisions with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-information-you-have-at-the-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/you-can-only-make-decisions-with-the-information-you-have-at-the-time/#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 } } ] } ```