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We always plan too much and always think too little.
Joseph A. Schumpeter
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that we tend to overthink our plans while underestimating the importance of thoughtfulness in decision-making.

Joseph A. Schumpeter's quote highlights the common human tendency to over-plan and overanalyze our actions and decisions, often neglecting the need for deeper reflection and critical thinking in our approaches. By emphasizing that we 'always plan too much,' he points out that excessive focus on logistics can cloud our judgment, while the phrase 'always think too little' nudges us to be more mindful and thoughtful in our considerations, ultimately leading to better outcomes in both personal and professional realms.

Themes

PlanningThinkingDecisionsReflectiveMindfulness

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about decision-making in business.

More from Joseph A. Schumpeter

This civilization is rapidly passing away, however. Let us rejoice or else lament the fact as much as everyone of us likes; but do not let us shut our eyes to it.
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Capitalism stands its trial before judges who have the sentence of death in their pockets. They are going to pass it, whatever the defense they may hear; the only success victorious defense can possibly produce is a change in the indictment.
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The function of entrepreneurs is to reform or revolutionize the pattern of production by exploiting an invention or, more generally, an untried technological possibility for producing a new commodity or producing an old one in a new way, by opening up a new source of supply of materials or a new outlet for products, by reorganizing an industry and so on.
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It is however always important to remember that the ability to see things in their correct perspective may be, and often is, divorced from the ability to reason correctly and vice versa. That is why a man may be a very good theorist and yet talk absolute nonsense.
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Capitalism inevitably and by virtue of the very logic of its civilization creates, educates and subsidizes a vested interest in social unrest.
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Recognition of the inevitability of comprehensive bureaucratization does not solve the problems that arise out of it.
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