--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Caution always, but when a man acts he…" description: "\"Caution always, but when a man acts he should act suddenly and with decision.\" — Louis L'Amour" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/louis-l-amour-876_caution_caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-sh_1397685.jpg" --- # Caution always, but when a man acts he should act suddenly… ![“Caution always, but when a man acts he should act suddenly and with decision.” quote by Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/louis-l-amour-876_caution_caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-sh_1397685.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/louis-l-amour-876_caution_caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-sh_1397685.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/louis-l-amour-876_caution_caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-sh_1397685.jpg) > “Caution always, but when a man acts he should act suddenly and with decision.” [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Act decisively when you choose to act, but maintain overall caution. **In simple terms:** Be cautious, act quickly and decisively. Key Takeaway Balance prudence with bold action. Themes caution decisiveness action strategy Mood determined focused Type advice motivational When to use this quote - business negotiations - emergency response - personal goals - sports competition Key Concepts risk assessment decision theory confidence Questions to Reflect On - When have you hesitated too long? - How can you prepare to act swiftly? A Different Perspective Over‑cautiousness can cause missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caution/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [If you want God to act SUDDENLY then you’re gonna have to pursue him PATIENTLY!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-wilkerson-jr/if-you-want-god-to-act-suddenly-then-you-re-gonna-have-to-pursue-him/) [Rich Wilkerson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-wilkerson-jr/) > [Mankind is made up of inconsistencies, and no man acts invariably up to his predominant character. The wisest man sometimes acts weakly, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/mankind-is-made-up-of-inconsistencies-and-no-man-acts-invariably-up/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [A man's acts are usually right, but his reasons seldom are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-reasons-seldom-are/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [No one is more liable to make mistakes than the man who acts only on reflection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/no-one-is-more-liable-to-make-mistakes-than-the-man-who-acts-only-on/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Whenever a man acts purposively, he acts under a belief in some experimental phenomenon. Consequently, the sum of the experimental phenomena that a proposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/whenever-a-man-acts-purposively-he-acts-under-a-belief-in-some/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [A man's acts are partly determined by spontaneous impulse, partly by the conscious and unconscious effects of the various groups to which he belongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/a-man-s-acts-are-partly-determined-by-spontaneous-impulse-partly-by/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“If a man acts in a purely mechanical way, reacting to external demands or instruction rather than in ways determined by his own interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-a-man-acts-in-a-purely-mechanical-way-reacting-to-external-demands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Man acts only when he is sure of the justness of his action, as we threw the bomb in the Legislative Assembly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/man-acts-only-when-he-is-sure-of-the-justness-of-his-action-as-we/) [Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/) > [No man who acts from a sense of duty ever puts the lesser duty above the greater. No man has the desire and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/no-man-who-acts-from-a-sense-of-duty-ever-puts-the-lesser-duty-above/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As man acts, God reacts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baal-shem-tov/as-man-acts-god-reacts/) [Baal Shem Tov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baal-shem-tov/) > [“The man who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hansen/the-man-who-acts-as-his-own-lawyer-has-a-fool-for-a-client/) [Joseph Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hansen/) > [Man acts from adequate motives relative to his interest, and not on metaphysical speculations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/man-acts-from-adequate-motives-relative-to-his-interest-and-not-on/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-acts-before-he-speaks-and-afterwards-speaks/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“People are intimidated by a man who acts with no apparent regard for consequences. Behave as if you cannot be touched and no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/people-are-intimidated-by-a-man-who-acts-with-no-apparent-regard-for/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [In the beginning was the Word. Man acts it out. He is the act, not the actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/in-the-beginning-was-the-word-man-acts-it-out-he-is-the-act-not-the/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) ## More by Louis L'Amour > [“If you play games with men,” he replied, “you’ll play by men’s rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/if-you-play-games-with-men-he-replied-you-ll-play-by-men-s-rules/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [He never knew when he was whipped ... So he never was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/he-never-knew-when-he-was-whipped-so-he-never-was/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“It is through wonder that we come to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/it-is-through-wonder-that-we-come-to-know/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [We are, finally, all wanderers in search of knowledge. Most of us hold the dream of becoming something better than we are, something larger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/we-are-finally-all-wanderers-in-search-of-knowledge-most-of-us-hold/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Much of command is the ability to take command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/much-of-command-is-the-ability-to-take-command/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Out here you better have a gun, and a gun in the wagon ain't good for nothin'. I believe what the old Quaker said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/out-here-you-better-have-a-gun-and-a-gun-in-the-wagon-ain-t-good-for/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“he had been so right, and she hated him for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/he-had-been-so-right-and-she-hated-him-for-it/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“I will go with you, and when you make your camp, I will cook your meat, and when you wish to sleep, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/i-will-go-with-you-and-when-you-make-your-camp-i-will-cook-your-meat/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Men strive for peace, but it is their enemies that give them strength, and I think if man no longer had enemies, he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/men-strive-for-peace-but-it-is-their-enemies-that-give-them-strength/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/there-will-come-a-time-when-you-believe-everything-is-finished-yet/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Destarte! How musical! What does it mean?” “You can’t say it except in Mescalero. It means Morning, but that isn’t what it means, either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/destarte-how-musical-what-does-it-mean-you-can-t-say-it-except-in/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [You can't fight the desert... you have to ride with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/you-can-t-fight-the-desert-you-have-to-ride-with-it/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Must one seek something? I seek to be seeking, as I learn to be learning. Each book is an adventure as is each day’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/must-one-seek-something-i-seek-to-be-seeking-as-i-learn-to-be/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [A man in his life may have many teachers, some most unexpected. The question lies with the man himself: Will he learn from them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/a-man-in-his-life-may-have-many-teachers-some-most-unexpected-the/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Like I say, I killed a man or two but I'm no thief. My ma raised me better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/like-i-say-i-killed-a-man-or-two-but-i-m-no-thief-my-ma-raised-me/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) [Explore all 337 Louis L'Amour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) ## More Caution quotes > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [It requires as much to tell the truth as to conceal it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-requires-as-much-to-tell-the-truth-as-to-conceal-it/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [“…there’s nothing in this world that demands more caution than the truth. To tell the truth is like leeching one’s own heart...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-s-nothing-in-this-world-that-demands-more-caution-than-the/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [There is one stark fact facing us: three quarters of all crime that results in a caution or sentence happens because of reoffending. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/there-is-one-stark-fact-facing-us-three-quarters-of-all-crime-that/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [The four cautions: Beware a woman in front of you, beware a horse behind of you, beware a cart beside of you, and beware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-o-neill/the-four-cautions-beware-a-woman-in-front-of-you-beware-a-horse/) [Jamie O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-o-neill/) > [“Oh ... why not?' he smiled. "This valley is a pleasant spot for meditation. I like New England... it is here that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-why-not-he-smiled-this-valley-is-a-pleasant-spot-for-meditation-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [ “\[U\]se extreme caution, and please remember that 451 degrees Fahrenheit is more than just a book a title…” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammon-shea/u-se-extreme-caution-and-please-remember-that-451-degrees-fahrenheit/) [Ammon Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammon-shea/) > [I often found myself in situations where I had, without thinking, said too much to too many with too little caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/i-often-found-myself-in-situations-where-i-had-without-thinking-said/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [The future is inherently full of discontinuities, and lessons of the past must be applied with enormous caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-future-is-inherently-full-of-discontinuities-and-lessons-of-the/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Every human being has, like Socrates, an attendant spirit; and wise are they who obey its signals. If it does not always tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/every-human-being-has-like-socrates-an-attendant-spirit-and-wise-are/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [“Love everyone but chose your friends with caution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/love-everyone-but-chose-your-friends-with-caution/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) [Browse all 640 Caution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Caution always, but when a man acts he should act suddenly and with decision.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis L'Amour" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-should-act-suddenly-and-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Caution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-should-act-suddenly-and-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/louis-l-amour-876_caution_caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-sh_1397685.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/louis-l-amour-876_caution_caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-sh_1397685.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/495/louis-l-amour-876_caution_caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-sh_1397685.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Caution always, but when a man acts he should act suddenly and with decision.” — Louis L'Amour", "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": "Louis L'Amour", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Caution always, but when a man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-should-act-suddenly-and-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/caution-always-but-when-a-man-acts-he-should-act-suddenly-and-with/#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 } } ] } ```