--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For A to sit down and think, What shall I…" description: "\"For A to sit down and think, What shall I do? is commonplace; but to think what B ought to do is interesting, romantic, moral, self-flattering, and pub..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/william-graham-sumner-5011_class_for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i_1851994.jpg" --- # For A to sit down and think, What shall I do? is… ![“For A to sit down and think, What shall I do? is commonplace; but to think what B ought to do is interesting, romantic, moral, self-flattering, and public-spirited all at once. It satisfies a great number of human weaknesses at once. To go on and plan what a whole class of people ought to do is to…” quote by William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/william-graham-sumner-5011_class_for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i_1851994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/william-graham-sumner-5011_class_for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i_1851994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/william-graham-sumner-5011_class_for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i_1851994.jpg) > “For A to sit down and think, What shall I do? is commonplace; but to think what B ought to do is interesting, romantic, moral, self-flattering, and public-spirited all at once. It satisfies a great number of human weaknesses at once. To go on and plan what a whole class of people ought to do is to feel one's self a power on earth, to win a public position, to clothe one's self in dignity. Hence we have an unlimited supply of reformers, philanthropists, humanitarians, and would-be managers-in-general of society.” [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) ## 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 contrasts personal contemplation with the grandiose desire to dictate others' actions, highlighting how such ambition satisfies ego, morality, and social status, leading many to become reformers or self‑appointed leaders. **In simple terms:** Thinking about oneself is simple; deciding for others feels powerful. Key Takeaway Beware of ego‑driven grand plans. Themes ego morality leadership social influence reform Mood reflective critical inspirational Type philosophical political ethical When to use this quote - political activism - nonprofit leadership - community organizing - policy advocacy - personal career planning Key Concepts hubris public service psychology of power ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your desire to guide others? - How do you balance personal humility with public ambition? A Different Perspective It can ignore practical limits and marginalize those affected. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philanthropist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropist/) [Reformers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reformers/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Spirited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirited/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [What is now commonplace was once not, and I think that's a testament to what it means to really break the mold and push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scooter-braun/what-is-now-commonplace-was-once-not-and-i-think-that-s-a-testament/) [Scooter Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scooter-braun/) > [“As I think of myself, so I shall be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/as-i-think-of-myself-so-i-shall-be/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [As You Think, So Shall You Be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-think-so-shall-you-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To-morrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of to-day?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/to-morrow-when-i-wake-or-think-i-do-what-shall-i-say-of-to-day/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“When I look at small things, I think I shall go on living: drops of rain, leather gloves shrunk by being wet...When I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobo-abe/when-i-look-at-small-things-i-think-i-shall-go-on-living-drops-of/) [Kobo Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobo-abe/) > [“I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, shan’t I? (looking round with the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-shall-be-sure-to-say-three-dull-things-as-soon-as-ever-i-open-my/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“You direct the will upon the mind, and use it in determining what you shall believe, what you shall think, and to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/you-direct-the-will-upon-the-mind-and-use-it-in-determining-what-you/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [As you think, so shall you become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/as-you-think-so-shall-you-become/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [We must live as we think, otherwise we shall end up by thinking as we have lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bourget/we-must-live-as-we-think-otherwise-we-shall-end-up-by-thinking-as-we/) [Paul Bourget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bourget/) > [“I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-have-often-wondered-how-it-is-that-every-man-loves-himself-more/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [As you think, you shall become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/as-you-think-you-shall-become/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“Someone said that intelligence would be needed in the party. He was right. I think I shall come with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-fellowship-of-the-rings/someone-said-that-intelligence-would-be-needed-in-the-party-he-was/) J.R.R. Tolkien (Fellowship of the Rings > [Do others, I wondered, "see things as I do? I do not think so, for if they did they would not still be alive."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mairs/do-others-i-wondered-see-things-as-i-do-i-do-not-think-so-for-if-they/) [Nancy Mairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mairs/) > [I traveled and made money and I wouldn't let anybody get between me and my music. If I belong to anything, I belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-jessye/i-traveled-and-made-money-and-i-wouldn-t-let-anybody-get-between-me/) Eva Jessye > [“I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-never-have-been-in-love-it-is-not-my-way-or-my-nature-and-i-do-not/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## More by William Graham Sumner > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [One thing must be granted to the rich: they are goodnatured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/one-thing-must-be-granted-to-the-rich-they-are-goodnatured/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [“Can anyone imagine that the masterfulness, the overbearing disposition, the greed of gain, and the ruthlessness in methods, which are the faults of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/can-anyone-imagine-that-the-masterfulness-the-overbearing-disposition/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The waste of capital, in proportion to the total capital, in this country between 1800 and 1850, in the attempts which were made to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-waste-of-capital-in-proportion-to-the-total-capital-in-this/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [We shall find that every effort to realize equality necessitates a sacrifice of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/we-shall-find-that-every-effort-to-realize-equality-necessitates-a/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [Who is the Forgotten Man? He is the clean, quiet, virtuous, domestic citizen, who pays his debts and his taxes and is never heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/who-is-the-forgotten-man-he-is-the-clean-quiet-virtuous-domestic/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The men who start out with the notion that the world owes them a living generally find that the world pays its 'debt' in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-men-who-start-out-with-the-notion-that-the-world-owes-them-a/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The taxing power is especially something after which the reformer's finger always itches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-taxing-power-is-especially-something-after-which-the-reformer-s/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [Great captains of industry are as rare as great generals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/great-captains-of-industry-are-as-rare-as-great-generals/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [Whatever capital you divert to the support of a shiftless and good-for-nothing person is so much diverted from some other employment, and that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/whatever-capital-you-divert-to-the-support-of-a-shiftless-and-good/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [ The yearning after equality \[in economic outcome\] is the offspring of envy and covetousness, and there is no possible plan for satisfying that yearning… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-yearning-after-equality-in-economic-outcome-is-the-offspring-of/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [I never have known a man of ordinary common-sense who did not urge upon his sons, from earliest childhood, doctrines of economy and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/i-never-have-known-a-man-of-ordinary-common-sense-who-did-not-urge/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [Before the tribunal of nature, a man has no more right to life than a rattlesnake; he has no more right to liberty than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/before-the-tribunal-of-nature-a-man-has-no-more-right-to-life-than-a/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The millionaires are a product of natural selection ... the naturally selected agents of society for certain work. They get high wages and live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-millionaires-are-a-product-of-natural-selection-the-naturally/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [Perhaps they do not recognize themselves, for a rich man is even harder to define than a poor one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/perhaps-they-do-not-recognize-themselves-for-a-rich-man-is-even/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) [Explore all 104 William Graham Sumner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) ## More Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For A to sit down and think, What shall I do? is commonplace; but to think what B ought to do is interesting, romantic, moral, self-flattering, and public-spirited all at once. It satisfies a great number of human weaknesses at once. To go on and plan what a whole class of people ought to do is to feel one's self a power on earth, to win a public position, to clothe one's self in dignity. Hence we have an unlimited supply of reformers, philanthropists, humanitarians, and would-be managers-in-general of society.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Graham Sumner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i-do-is-commonplace-but-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i-do-is-commonplace-but-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/william-graham-sumner-5011_class_for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i_1851994.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/william-graham-sumner-5011_class_for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i_1851994.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/william-graham-sumner-5011_class_for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i_1851994.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For A to sit down and think, What shall I do? is commonplace; but to think what B ought to do is…” — William Graham Sumner", "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": "William Graham Sumner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For A to sit down and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i-do-is-commonplace-but-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/for-a-to-sit-down-and-think-what-shall-i-do-is-commonplace-but-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 } } ] } ```