--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: first principle: • Think for yourself to…" description: "\"“first principle: • Think for yourself to decide 1) what you want, 2) what is true, and 3) what you should do to achieve #1 in light of #2 . . . . . . ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa9/ray-dalio-299_think_first-principle-think-for-yourself-to-de_2487055.jpg" --- # first principle: • Think for yourself to decide 1) what… ![“first principle: • Think for yourself to decide 1) what you want, 2) what is true, and 3) what you should do to achieve #1 in light of #2 . . . . . . and do that with humility and open-mindedness so that you consider the best thinking available to you.” quote by Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa9/ray-dalio-299_think_first-principle-think-for-yourself-to-de_2487055.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa9/ray-dalio-299_think_first-principle-think-for-yourself-to-de_2487055.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa9/ray-dalio-299_think_first-principle-think-for-yourself-to-de_2487055.jpg) > ““first principle: • Think for yourself to decide 1) what you want, 2) what is true, and 3) what you should do to achieve #1 in light of #2 . . . . . . and do that with humility and open-mindedness so that you consider the best thinking available to you.”” [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote outlines a three‑step decision framework: define goals, determine truth, decide actions, all pursued with humility and openness. **In simple terms:** Think, discover truth, act, stay humble and open. Key Takeaway Apply a disciplined, humble approach to decision‑making. Themes self‑improvement decision‑making humility Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - personal planning - business strategy - leadership development Key Concepts first principles open‑mindedness goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions are you making? - How do you stay open to new ideas? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on personal bias can still affect outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-thinking-925932/) [Mindedness Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindedness-consider-925933/) [Principle Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-think-315530/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-decide-760401/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [“The style of a soul. Do you remember the famous philosopher who spoke of the style of a civilization? He called it 'style.' 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If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [You can think about it, wonder what went wrong, over analyze the situation but the fact remains... it's the past, just let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/you-can-think-about-it-wonder-what-went-wrong-over-analyze-the/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [They are focused on whether they can do something. They never think whether they should do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-are-focused-on-whether-they-can-do-something-they-never-think/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Remember we all was born into this world through God hands,Why You think we all have a brain so we can think and know..Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/remember-we-all-was-born-into-this-world-through-god-hands-why-you/) [FrenchQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenchqueen/) > [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers & think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. 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