--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never make a decision until you have to." description: "\"Never make a decision until you have to.\" — Randy Pausch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/randy-pausch-842_decision_never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to_2227613.png" --- # Never make a decision until you have to. ![“Never make a decision until you have to.” quote by Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/randy-pausch-842_decision_never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to_2227613.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/randy-pausch-842_decision_never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to_2227613.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/randy-pausch-842_decision_never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to_2227613.png) > “Never make a decision until you have to.” [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Delay decisions until necessity forces them, avoiding premature commitments that may be misguided. **In simple terms:** Wait until you must decide. Key Takeaway Act only when required. Themes decision-making patience timing Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - investment decisions - personal relationships - project planning Key Concepts Opportunity cost strategic delay Questions to Reflect On - When have you delayed a decision and what was the result? - Is waiting always beneficial? A Different Perspective Waiting can lead to missed opportunities if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decision/) ## Related quotes > [If you ever make a decision that doesn't put the kids first, it is the wrong decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-anstead/if-you-ever-make-a-decision-that-doesn-t-put-the-kids-first-it-is-the/) [Ant Anstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-anstead/) > [I don't make a decision till I see fit. That's why I'm so effective. My mind isn't predetermined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/i-don-t-make-a-decision-till-i-see-fit-that-s-why-i-m-so-effective-my/) [Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/) > [If you simply cannot make the right decision, make a decision and then make it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/if-you-simply-cannot-make-the-right-decision-make-a-decision-and-then/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Golf is a lot like life. When you make a decision, stick with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-nelson/golf-is-a-lot-like-life-when-you-make-a-decision-stick-with-it/) [Byron Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-nelson/) > [There is a time when we must firmly choose the course which we will follow or the endless drift of events will make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-time-when-we-must-firmly-choose-the-course-which-we-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“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/) > [Time cools, time clarifies; no mood can be maintained quite unaltered through the course of hours. When you make a decision to "be" a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/time-cools-time-clarifies-no-mood-can-be-maintained-quite-unaltered/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I refuse to make a decision that somebody else can make. The first rule of leadership is to save yourself for the big decision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-refuse-to-make-a-decision-that-somebody-else-can-make-the-first/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I know that when a fighter is out of the ring for more than two years, when he comes back he isn't the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hagler/i-know-that-when-a-fighter-is-out-of-the-ring-for-more-than-two-years/) [Marvin Hagler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hagler/) > [Life is a chess match. Every decision that you make has a consequence to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-k-subban/life-is-a-chess-match-every-decision-that-you-make-has-a-consequence/) [P.K. Subban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-k-subban/) > [Make The Decision, Do It With Confidence, And The World Will Be Yours...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/make-the-decision-do-it-with-confidence-and-the-world-will-be-yours/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Never make a decision when you need to pee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/never-make-a-decision-when-you-need-to-pee/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I always roll with the way things are, so as soon as one decision happens, you just realign and move on and make another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-skrein/i-always-roll-with-the-way-things-are-so-as-soon-as-one-decision/) [Ed Skrein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-skrein/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“To make a decision, all you need is authority. To make a good decision, you also need knowledge, experience, and insight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-moreland/to-make-a-decision-all-you-need-is-authority-to-make-a-good-decision/) [Denise Moreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-moreland/) ## More by Randy Pausch > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I was hugely impressed... was the ultimate example of a man who knew what he didn't know, was perfectly willing to admit it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-was-hugely-impressed-was-the-ultimate-example-of-a-man-who-knew/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [There's nothing about my life that I would have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-s-nothing-about-my-life-that-i-would-have-changed/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Complaining does not work as a strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/complaining-does-not-work-as-a-strategy/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“If other people owe you an apology, and your words of apology to them are proper and heartfelt, you still may not hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-other-people-owe-you-an-apology-and-your-words-of-apology-to-them/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“The brick walls are there for a reason. they're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-for-a-reason-they-re-not-there-to-keep-us/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [People are more important than things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/people-are-more-important-than-things/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Anyone who knows me well will tell you that arrogance is one of my flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/anyone-who-knows-me-well-will-tell-you-that-arrogance-is-one-of-my/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you do the right thing, good stuff has a way of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-do-the-right-thing-good-stuff-has-a-way-of-happening/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I don't believe in the no-win scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-don-t-believe-in-the-no-win-scenario/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Chemo days make me tired, though it's hard to say that's because of the chemo when you have kids who have inherited their dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/chemo-days-make-me-tired-though-it-s-hard-to-say-that-s-because-of/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [And even though I did not reach the National Football League, I sometimes think I got more from pursuing that dream, and not accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/and-even-though-i-did-not-reach-the-national-football-league-i/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [there should be some lessons learned and how you can use the stuff you hear today to achieve your dreams or enable the dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-should-be-some-lessons-learned-and-how-you-can-use-the-stuff/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Explore all 347 Randy Pausch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## 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": "Never make a decision until you have to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Randy Pausch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/randy-pausch-842_decision_never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to_2227613.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/randy-pausch-842_decision_never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to_2227613.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/randy-pausch-842_decision_never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to_2227613.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never make a decision until you have to.” — Randy Pausch", "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": "Randy Pausch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never make a decision until you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/never-make-a-decision-until-you-have-to/#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 } } ] } ```