--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As usual, it occurred to me that words…" description: "\"As usual, it occurred to me that words were the only thing that could possibly save me from this situation. This was a characteristic misunderstanding ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/yukio-mishima-1418_action_as-usual-it-occurred-to-me-that-words-we_92770.jpg" --- # As usual, it occurred to me that words were the only thing… ![“As usual, it occurred to me that words were the only thing that could possibly save me from this situation. This was a characteristic misunderstanding on my part. When action was needed, I was absorbed in words; for words proceeded with such difficulty from my mouth that I was intent on them and…” quote by Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/yukio-mishima-1418_action_as-usual-it-occurred-to-me-that-words-we_92770.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/yukio-mishima-1418_action_as-usual-it-occurred-to-me-that-words-we_92770.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/yukio-mishima-1418_action_as-usual-it-occurred-to-me-that-words-we_92770.jpg) > “As usual, it occurred to me that words were the only thing that could possibly save me from this situation. This was a characteristic misunderstanding on my part. When action was needed, I was absorbed in words; for words proceeded with such difficulty from my mouth that I was intent on them and forgot all about action. It seemed to me that actions, which are dazzling, varied things, must always be accompanied by equally dazzling and equally varied words.” [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator recognizes a paralysis where elaborate verbalization replaces decisive action, highlighting a self‑inflicted trap of over‑thinking. **In simple terms:** Analysis paralysis Key Takeaway Words can become a refuge that hinders deeds Themes procrastination over‑analysis self‑sabotage communication vs. action Mood introspective critical Type philosophical reflection personal confession When to use this quote - writing a speech but never delivering it - planning a project without execution - debating ethics without taking a stand Key Concepts psychology of indecision importance of decisive action Practical Applications - leadership training - personal productivity coaching Questions to Reflect On - When have words served you better than action? - What strategies break the cycle of over‑talking? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Save me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-me/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [From the start, English has happily absorbed words from every tongue it's encountered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-dent/from-the-start-english-has-happily-absorbed-words-from-every-tongue/) [Susie Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-dent/) > [If I'm a guy who doesn't seem so merry, It's just because I'm so misunderstood. 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I love you, I love you, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/come-at-once-help-me-save-me-i-need-you-as-i-have-never-needed-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Yukio Mishima > [When a captive lion steps out of his cage, he comes into a wider world than the lion who has known only the wilds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/when-a-captive-lion-steps-out-of-his-cage-he-comes-into-a-wider-world/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Suddenly the full long wail of a ship's horn surged through the open window and flooded the dim room - a cry of boundless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/suddenly-the-full-long-wail-of-a-ship-s-horn-surged-through-the-open/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [The purest evil that human efforts could attain, in other words, was probably achieved by those men who made their wills the same and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/the-purest-evil-that-human-efforts-could-attain-in-other-words-was/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“Because in the pupils of his eyes there lingered the mysterious and eternal horizon that the sea leaves as a keepsake deep in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/because-in-the-pupils-of-his-eyes-there-lingered-the-mysterious-and/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Mine was the unbearable jealousy a cultured pearl must feel toward a genuine one. 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How much better to accept each sweet drop of the honey that was Time, than to stoop to the vulgarity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/just-let-matters-slide-how-much-better-to-accept-each-sweet-drop-of/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“Great cloud masses boiled up, immense in their quiet majesty. They seemed to drink up all the noise below, even the sound of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/great-cloud-masses-boiled-up-immense-in-their-quiet-majesty-they/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [The special quality of hell is to see everything clearly down to the last detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/the-special-quality-of-hell-is-to-see-everything-clearly-down-to-the/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [It is a rather risky matter to discuss a happiness that has no need of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/it-is-a-rather-risky-matter-to-discuss-a-happiness-that-has-no-need/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“Again, Saburo Tominaga once went to the Shirakawa Prefectural Office to cash his brother Morikuni’s bonus bond and, unwilling to touch paper currency defiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/again-saburo-tominaga-once-went-to-the-shirakawa-prefectural-office/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“To be strong and true had been the most important task he had set himself since early childhood. 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A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/kazu-now-that-she-thought-of-it-realized-that-for-all-her-headstrong/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) [Explore all 206 Yukio Mishima quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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