--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been impulsive. My thinking…" description: "\"I've always been impulsive. My thinking is usually pretty good, but I always seem to do it after I do my talking — by which time I've generally destroy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/roger-zelazny-1604_bases_i-ve-always-been-impulsive-my-thinking-i_84547.png" --- # I've always been impulsive. My thinking is usually pretty… ![“I've always been impulsive. My thinking is usually pretty good, but I always seem to do it after I do my talking — by which time I've generally destroyed all basis for further conversation.” quote by Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/roger-zelazny-1604_bases_i-ve-always-been-impulsive-my-thinking-i_84547.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/roger-zelazny-1604_bases_i-ve-always-been-impulsive-my-thinking-i_84547.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/roger-zelazny-1604_bases_i-ve-always-been-impulsive-my-thinking-i_84547.png) > “I've always been impulsive. My thinking is usually pretty good, but I always seem to do it after I do my talking — by which time I've generally destroyed all basis for further conversation.” [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges a pattern of acting before fully considering the consequences, leading to self‑sabotage in dialogue. **In simple terms:** Act before thinking, then ruin conversation. Key Takeaway Impulsivity can undermine communication. Themes self‑awareness communication impulsivity consequences personal growth Mood regret frustration self‑critique Type personal anecdote cautionary observation When to use this quote - team meetings - debates - negotiations - personal relationships - public speaking Key Concepts self‑regulation dialogue dynamics Practical Applications - coaching on reflective listening - training on decision‑making pauses Questions to Reflect On - How could a brief pause change the outcome? - What strategies help align thought and speech? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t be sorry,” he said, smirking slightly. “I’d bet that’s the first time in your life you’ve ever been impulsive. Don’t apologize for it.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-alexander/don-t-be-sorry-he-said-smirking-slightly-i-d-bet-that-s-the-first/) [Monica Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-alexander/) > [I've never been impulsive. It's always been in my nature to consider things carefully and then decide upon the best solution. Except, sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-yovanoff/i-ve-never-been-impulsive-it-s-always-been-in-my-nature-to-consider/) [Brenna Yovanoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-yovanoff/) > [I'm not sure if I could tell the difference—between just staring into space and thinking. We're usually thinking all the time, aren't we? Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-m-not-sure-if-i-could-tell-the-difference-between-just-staring-into/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Once I have something that I think I can work with, then I'll go in and make it on the computer. I'll try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sune-rose-wagner/once-i-have-something-that-i-think-i-can-work-with-then-i-ll-go-in/) [Sune Rose Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sune-rose-wagner/) > [I was thinking what I usually think about when I write: what the next word should be, whether my character should be an emu…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-moffett/i-was-thinking-what-i-usually-think-about-when-i-write-what-the-next/) [Kevin Moffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-moffett/) > [“Now we're in that sweet period where everyone agrees that our recent horrors should never be repeated. But collective thinking is usually short-lived. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/now-we-re-in-that-sweet-period-where-everyone-agrees-that-our-recent/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Saying that positive thinking usually doesnt work is such heresy that I may be unceremoniously drummed out of the personal development field. And, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-white/saying-that-positive-thinking-usually-doesnt-work-is-such-heresy-that/) [Robert White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-white/) > [But collective thinking is usually short-lived. We're fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-collective-thinking-is-usually-short-lived-we-re-fickle-stupid/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [We cannot know the young child's personality by studying his systems of interest, for his attention is as yet too labile, his reactions impulsive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-cannot-know-the-young-child-s-personality-by-studying-his-systems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Impulsive isn’t something you choose. It’s something you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-hubbard/impulsive-isn-t-something-you-choose-it-s-something-you-are/) [Kirsten Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-hubbard/) > [More errors arise from inhibited indecision than from impulsive behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-ernst/more-errors-arise-from-inhibited-indecision-than-from-impulsive/) Morris L. Ernst > [Courage is impulsive; it is narcissism tempered with nihilism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/courage-is-impulsive-it-is-narcissism-tempered-with-nihilism/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) > [“A lot of impulsive mistakes are made by people who simply aren’t willing to stay bored a little longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-aurandt/a-lot-of-impulsive-mistakes-are-made-by-people-who-simply-aren-t/) Paul Aurandt > [I think you have to sort of accept that nobody really knows where it's going so there has to be a lot of impulsive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/i-think-you-have-to-sort-of-accept-that-nobody-really-knows-where-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [Music comes from the heart and returns to the heart... music is spontaneous, impulsive expression... its range is without limit... music is forever growing...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-stokowski/music-comes-from-the-heart-and-returns-to-the-heart-music-is/) [Leopold Stokowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-stokowski/) ## More by Roger Zelazny > [“I was willing to die fighting, but it was senseless for all these men to go down with me. Perhaps my blood was tainted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-was-willing-to-die-fighting-but-it-was-senseless-for-all-these-men/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [I know, too, that death is the only god who comes when you call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-know-too-that-death-is-the-only-god-who-comes-when-you-call/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [There's no such thing as civilization. The word just means the art of living in cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/there-s-no-such-thing-as-civilization-the-word-just-means-the-art-of/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“Time, too, is a function of Shadow, and even Dworkin did not know all of its ins and outs. Or perhaps he did. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/time-too-is-a-function-of-shadow-and-even-dworkin-did-not-know-all-of/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“And again, damn. Of troubles I considered myself amply possessed. But those who have do seem to get. Some spiritual form of compound interest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/and-again-damn-of-troubles-i-considered-myself-amply-possessed-but/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“Far below, the ocean was a bluegray rug being pulled out from beneath us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/far-below-the-ocean-was-a-bluegray-rug-being-pulled-out-from-beneath/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [A powerful flight of the imagination . . . an entirely enjoyable reading experience, wrought by a pair of writers noted for excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/a-powerful-flight-of-the-imagination-an-entirely-enjoyable-reading/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [The function of criticism should not be confused with the function of reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-function-of-criticism-should-not-be-confused-with-the-function-of/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [I always wanted to write, ever since I was a kid. 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This, because you are fairly adept at the various embalming arts and you occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/to-waste-you-are-unknown-and-unwanted-save-by-me-this-because-you-are/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [I watched the spinning stars, grateful, sad and proud, as only a man who has outlived his destiny and realizes he might yet forge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-watched-the-spinning-stars-grateful-sad-and-proud-as-only-a-man-who/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“In the State of Denmark there was the odor of decay...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/in-the-state-of-denmark-there-was-the-odor-of-decay/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) [Explore all 220 Roger Zelazny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) ## More Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. 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