Action Quote by Thornton Wilder
““Cesar is not a philosophical man. His life has been one long flight from reflection. At least he is clever enough not to expose the poverty of his general ideas; he never permits the conversation to move toward philosophical principles. Men of his type so dread all deliberation that they glory in the practice of the instantaneous decision. They think they are saving themselves from irresolution; in reality they are sparing themselves the contemplation of all the consequences of their acts. Moreover, in this way they can rejoice in the illusion of never having made a mistake; for act follows so swiftly on act that it is impossible to reconstruct the past and say that an alternative decision would have been better. They can pretend that every act was forced on them under emergency and that every decision was mothered by necessity””
About This Quote
Cesar avoids deep thought, preferring swift decisions that shield him from confronting consequences, creating an illusion of infallibility.
In simple terms: Cesar chooses quick choices over reflection, avoiding responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Embrace deliberation to avoid costly, unexamined actions.
Themes
philosophy
decision‑making
self‑deception
Mood
critical
cautious
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- personal relationships
- political leadership
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
consequentialism
impulsivity
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the costs of avoiding reflection?
- How can one balance speed and thought?
A Different Perspective
Rapid decisions can lead to unintended harm.
![“The philosophical I is not the man, not the human body or the human soul of which psychology treats, but the metaphysical subject, the limit -not a part of the world. [...] If by eternity is understood not endless temporal duration but timelessness, then he lives eternally who lives in the present.” quote by Wittgenstein Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/53d/wittgenstein-ludwig-58704_human-body_the-philosophical-i-is-not-the-man-not-t_890728.jpg)
