---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the time for decision arrives, the…"
description: "\"When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.\" — Thomas S. Monson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/thomas-s-monson-409_decision_when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-t_2892527.png"
---

#  When the time for decision arrives, the time for…

![“When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.” quote by Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/thomas-s-monson-409_decision_when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-t_2892527.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/thomas-s-monson-409_decision_when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-t_2892527.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/thomas-s-monson-409_decision_when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-t_2892527.png)

> “When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.”

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When decisive moments arrive, preparation time has already passed, emphasizing the need for ongoing readiness.

**In simple terms:** Preparation must be continuous.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate constant preparedness.

Themes

decision making preparation timing

Mood

urgent thoughtful

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- crisis management
- career planning
- personal development

Key Concepts

strategic planning learning adaptability

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you embed preparation into daily habits?
- What risks arise from complacency?

A Different Perspective

Preparation cannot be retroactive; some moments are truly unexpected.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision Arrives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-arrives-4070124/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Preparation Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation-past-4070125/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-decision-809597/) [Time Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-preparation-293801/)

## Related quotes

> [There will be occasions in each of our lives when we will be called upon to explain or to defend our beliefs. When the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/there-will-be-occasions-in-each-of-our-lives-when-we-will-be-called/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Time and decision-making themselves follow a power law, and some moments matter far more than others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/time-and-decision-making-themselves-follow-a-power-law-and-some/)

[Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/)

> [I love to work this way - I love the time of preparation. If you feed yourself with all the information and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-love-to-work-this-way-i-love-the-time-of-preparation-if-you-feed/)

[Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/)

> [The time is short. Eternity is long. It is the time of decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-time-is-short-eternity-is-long-it-is-the-time-of-decision/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Indecision with the passing of time becomes decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-with-the-passing-of-time-becomes-decision/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A moment of time has at least one decision left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tivea/a-moment-of-time-has-at-least-one-decision-left-behind/)

[Tivea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tivea/)

> [A time for reflection, a time for preparation, a time to consider, a time for decision, a time to get time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/a-time-for-reflection-a-time-for-preparation-a-time-to-consider-a/)

[Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/)

> [The time and preparation before a play is something I really value, and it's something I learned in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/the-time-and-preparation-before-a-play-is-something-i-really-value/)

[Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/)

> [I always feel I can play a role - just give me the time to do the preparation and I'll be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-always-feel-i-can-play-a-role-just-give-me-the-time-to-do-the/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [So much of our time is preparation, so much is routine, and so much retrospect, that the path of each man's genius contracts itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/so-much-of-our-time-is-preparation-so-much-is-routine-and-so-much/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Through humble prayer, diligent preparation, and faithful service, we can succeed in our sacred callings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/through-humble-prayer-diligent-preparation-and-faithful-service-we/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I think all of the decisions I make about my life and writing are the preparation - what I choose to write about and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quiara-alegria-hudes/i-think-all-of-the-decisions-i-make-about-my-life-and-writing-are-the/)

[Quiara Alegria Hudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quiara-alegria-hudes/)

> [Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed-the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/decisions-are-constantly-before-us-to-make-them-wisely-courage-is/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/)

[Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/)

> [Erase from your mind that your preparation must be perfect. Hard work + dedication = a shot at your dreams. Keep believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-goucher/erase-from-your-mind-that-your-preparation-must-be-perfect-hard-work/)

[Kara Goucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-goucher/)

## More by Thomas S. Monson

> [I know that God loves us. He allows us to exercise our moral agency even when we misuse it. He permits us to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-know-that-god-loves-us-he-allows-us-to-exercise-our-moral-agency/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Some find it difficult to withstand the mocking and unsavory remarks of foolish ones who ridicule chastity, honesty, and obedience to God’s commands. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/some-find-it-difficult-to-withstand-the-mocking-and-unsavory-remarks/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Choose your love, Love your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/choose-your-love-love-your-choice/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I ask you to make INSTITUTE a PRIORITY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-ask-you-to-make-institute-a-priority/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I hope with all my heart and soul that every young man who receives the priesthood will honor that priesthood and be true to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-hope-with-all-my-heart-and-soul-that-every-young-man-who-receives/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/forgiveness-should-go-hand-in-hand-with-love-in-our-families-as-well/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/born-in-a-stable-cradled-in-a-manger-he-came-forth-from-heaven-to/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [“A happy home is but and earlier Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/a-happy-home-is-but-and-earlier-heaven/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends forth to you an earnest appeal. Open your doors to the missionaries. Open your minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-sends-forth-to-you-an/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [This is my philosophy on all life, not just when it comes to love. All the best things are terrifying, but that's why they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/this-is-my-philosophy-on-all-life-not-just-when-it-comes-to-love-all/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness... We are the Lord’s hands here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-are-surrounded-by-those-in-need-of-our-attention-our-encouragement/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [You have a heritage honor it. You have posses a testimony share it. You will face temptations withstand it. You know the truth live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/you-have-a-heritage-honor-it-you-have-posses-a-testimony-share-it-you/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [We learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-learn-and-grow-and-become-stronger-as-we-face-and-survive-the/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I am certain that the Lord, who notes the fall of a sparrow, looks with compassion upon those who have been called upon to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/i-am-certain-that-the-lord-who-notes-the-fall-of-a-sparrow-looks-with/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

[Explore all 586 Thomas S. Monson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

## 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": "When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas S. Monson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-time-for-preparation-is-past/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Decision"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-time-for-preparation-is-past/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/thomas-s-monson-409_decision_when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-t_2892527.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/thomas-s-monson-409_decision_when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-t_2892527.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/thomas-s-monson-409_decision_when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-t_2892527.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.” — Thomas S. Monson",
                "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": "Thomas S. Monson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When the time for decision arrives,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-time-for-preparation-is-past/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/when-the-time-for-decision-arrives-the-time-for-preparation-is-past/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
