Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Government decisions should be thoughtful, not impulsive.
In plain terms
Don't let temporary excitement drive policy.
What can you take from it?
Make decisions with careful thought, not emotion.

Where it applies

  • crisis management
  • policy making
  • public discourse

Putting it to work

  • delay rash decisions
  • analyze thoroughly
  • remain calm

Questions to consider

  • How do you balance speed and thought?
  • When is excitement useful?

Another view

Over-deliberation can lead to missed opportunities.

More from Martin Van Buren

  1. Those who have wrought great changes in the world never succeeded by gaining over chiefs; but always by exciting the multitude. The first is the resource of in…

    Permalink to quote #15
  2. Mutual forbearance and reciprocal concessions: thro' their agency the Union was established - the patriotic spirit from which they emanated will forever sustai…

    Permalink to quote #14
  3. Unlike all who have preceded me, the Revolution that gave us existence as one people was achieved at the period of my birth; and whilst I contemplate with grat…

    Permalink to quote #13

Related quotes

  1. If one rejects laissez faire on account of mans fallibility and moral weakness, one must for the same reason also reject every kind of government action. -- Pl…

    Ludwig von MisesLudwig von Mises quote #1
  2. The trouble is that once America goes off to war, it can't very well return without having fought one. If it doesn't find its enemy, for the sake of the enrage…

    Arundhati RoyArundhati Roy quote #1
  3. The Slavs are to work for us. Insofar as we do not need them, they may die. Therefore, compulsory vaccination and German health service are superfluous. The fe…

    Martin BormannMartin Bormann quote #1