May Quote by Miguel de Cervantes
“He that will not when he may, When he would, he should have nay.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Don Quixote, Part I, 1605
He fails to act when he can, and later regrets missing the chance.
In simple terms: Missing opportunities leads to regret.
Key Takeaway
Act when you have the chance.
Themes
opportunity
regret
action
timing
decision‑making
Mood
reflective
cautionary
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- personal relationships
- investment opportunities
Key Concepts
free will
human folly
philosophy of choice
Questions to Reflect On
- What opportunities have you let slip by?
- How do you evaluate risk before acting?
A Different Perspective
Not all chances are worth taking; risk assessment needed.
![“He that doth what he should not, shall feele what he would not. [He that doth what he should not shall feel what he would not.]” quote by George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d8/george-herbert-107_feels_he-that-doth-what-he-should-not-shall-fe_38360.jpg)
