Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no need of change.
H. G. WellsRead
It sounds plausible enough tonight, but wait until tomorrow. Wait for the common sense of the morning.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of perspective and the clarity that comes with time.
H. G. Wells' quote highlights the contrast between our thoughts and feelings at night, which can be influenced by emotions and fatigue, versus the clarity that often arrives with the morning light. It suggests that what seems reasonable or hopeful in the moment may not hold up under the scrutiny of a fresh day, reminding us to approach our thoughts and decisions with a sense of caution and reason.
Themes
PerspectiveCommon SenseClarityReflectionDecision Making
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about handling challenges, one might say, 'Remember, as H. G. Wells said, it may sound plausible enough tonight, but wait until tomorrow for the common sense of the morning.'
More from H. G. Wells
All quotes →He spares no resource in telling of his dead inventions... Bare verbs he rarely tolerates. He splits infinitives and fills them up with adverbial stuffing. He presses the passing colloquialism into his service. His vast paragraphis sweat and struggle; the
H. G. WellsRead
It [a new world order] needs only that the governments of Britain, the United States, France, Germany, and Russia should get together in order to set up an effective control of currency, credit, production, and distribution – that is to say, an effective ‘dictatorship of prosperity,’ for the whole world. The other sixty odd States would have to join in or accommodate themselves to the over-ruling decisions of these major Powers.
H. G. WellsRead
Things that would have made fame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his hands. It is a mistake to do things too easily.
H. G. WellsRead
But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for years, but to wait inactive for twenty-four hours - that's another matter.
H. G. WellsRead
The greatest task of democracy, its ritual and feast - is choice.
H. G. WellsRead
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