“He who hesitates is lost”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase He who hesitates is lost means that delaying or being indecisive in taking action can lead to missed opportunities or negative consequences.
Tone Advisory and cautionary
Where it comes from
This adage is adapted from a line in Joseph Addison’s 1712 play Cato: a Tragedy. In the play, Marcia, the daughter of Roman senator Cato the Younger, says, “The woman who deliberates is lost.”
Examples
- John missed the opportunity because he took too long to decide; he who hesitates is lost.
- Sarah finally learned that he who hesitates is lost when she waited too long to apply for her dream job, and it was taken by someone else.
- In the fast-paced world of trading, he who hesitates is lost as the market waits for no one.
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