Quotes & Sayings About Second Guessing

Once you've achieved success, and you're making decisions that are working, I don't understand why anyone would be second-guessing themselves. — Chelsea Handler

The author says this socially respectable option NOT to parent has actually made parenthood more stressful. The knowledge that parents have chosen that role allows for unrealistic buildup of expectations and unavoidable second-guessing. — Jennifer Senior

Now, I'm so relaxed that I have to make myself nervous. I feel better when I'm second and third guessing myself over everything. I play with the mice in my head, all the time. — John Singleton

Things change all the time, and they'll probably never be the same again. It's just the natural evolution of the human condition. Things change, and whatever it is is what it is. I mean, you try to start second guessing that, you either get rich or die broke. — Guy Clark

Listen, young people, I understand narcissism - clearly. But at least I have the decency to hate myself. And that's what's missing from the young people. They don't have the debilitating self-loathing and the second guessing. — Janeane Garofalo

Finish the damn book. Nothing else matters. Stop second guessing yourself and write it through to the end. You don't know what you have until you've finished it. You don't know how to fix it until it's all down on the page. — Lauren Beukes

Ike was like a giant umbrella. He absorbed what was coming down from above, shielded his commanders from higher authority, and about them to fight the war without excessive second-guessing. — Jean Edward Smith

I agree with the President that second-guessing is not a strategy, but at the same time, I want to continue the dialogue that ultimately will lead to bringing all of our troops home. — Howard Coble

If you ever want to get the facts straight about me or the Batman, please write to the original source, myself, for the truth, instead of second guessing. — Bob Kane

Werewolf is a simple game for a large group of people (seven or more.) It requires no equipment besides some bits of paper; you can play it just sitting in a circle. I'd call it a party game, except that it's a game of accusations, lying, bluffing, second-guessing, assassination, and mob hysteria. — Andrew Plotkin

A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes of paper, and work double shifts. He or she will have carte blanche to innovate, but cannot spend much money, replace any personnel, or upset any constituency. — Michael Fullan

One should make the best choice possible given the circumstances, and then avoid second-guessing for the sake of one's own sanity. — Lisa Kleypas

When people don't trust you, they may walk with you but they second guess every step you take- don't believe what you say is what you mean... — Assegid Habtewold

One of the nice things about being a private company is operating without the intensity of public glare. It's hard to grow a company under a microscope of constant second guessing. — Sarah Lacy

No matter what the reason, the ways I tried to justify the situation, the second-guessing that lingered, nothing could change the fact that people stopped existing because of me. — Clint Van Winkle

I'm tired of waiting by the phone, and second-guessing what a guy says and trusting someone not to hurt me. Again. I've been storming the relationship castle for fifteen years, and I still don't have my prince. I've got a bunch of battle scars from the field and I want to go home and nurse my wounds. I don't want to fight anymore. — Kim Gruenenfelder

Louisiana's fiscal troubles can be traced to the economic boom that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when rebuilding efforts, insurance payouts and federal money pushed cash into the state budget. Many lawmakers expected the heady times and increased revenue to last, and they made the bold decision to cut income taxes by roughly $700 million annually for the highest brackets - a decision some are now second-guessing. — Anonymous

She had the conviction of the newly converted, which wouldn't last forever, but would for the moment brook no discouragement or allow for second-guessing. — Joshua Ferris

I started second-guessing myself and was always questioning myself. I have really learned a lot. — Yani Tseng

Second guessing a decision is a waste of time. — Jack O'Neill

You will never experience less reality than when you are watching a reality show. You're watching people who aren't actors, put into situations created by people who aren't writers and they're second guessing how they think you would like to see them behave if this were a real situation, which it's not. And you are passively observing this; watching an amateur production of nothing. It's like a photo of a drawing of a hologram. — Dana Gould

Part of my problem as a young writer was that I was too much a New Yorker, always second-guessing the 'market.' I became so discouraged that I decided to write something that would please me alone - that became my sole criterion. And that was when I wrote 'Forgetting Elena,' the first novel I got published. — Edmund White

Sovereigns did not have the luxury of second-guessing or all future commands could be questioned. That could never be. God did not allow his anointed to be wrong. — Jeane Westin

Though a degree from Yale was not required, Pinchot wanted his foresters to be able to write well, for the numerous reports that their enemies in Congress would be second-guessing. — Timothy Egan

Most films I work on, the people making the film are constantly second-guessing the executives of the studio, the producer, and the audience. It is very hard to accomplish anything in that situation. — Carter Burwell

One day, you muster the courage and let go of the fear. In a brief moment of insanity, you give wings to the stories you had wanted to tell; some you didn't even know were in you. In that instant, something about you changes. You are born again.

That is not to say the fear and worry and second-guessing go away. They are there. But you learn to cope with them. You learn that they don't control you at all times. In those fleeting moments of freedom, you have the power. You know you are not perfect. You realize no one was born perfect. No one. Rome wasn't built in a day either.
A weird thing happens when you get a glimpse of that side of you. A child-like zeal possesses you. It is addictive. You discover your voice. You matter. Maybe not to the world, yet. You matter to yourself. You are worthy. You are alive. You can be. — K.J. Kilton

President Gerald R. Ford was never one for second-guessing, but for many years after leaving office in 1977, he carried in his wallet a scrap of a 1915 Supreme Court ruling. 'A pardon,' the excerpt said, 'carries an imputation of guilt,' and acceptance of a pardon is 'a confession of it.' — Scott Shane

When you get down to it, though, explaining what you believe isn't all that easy. If you say that you believe something to be true, you might mean one of two things - that you're still weighing the alternatives, or that you accept it as a fact. I don't logically see how one single word can have contradictory definitions, but emotionally, I completely understand. Because there are times I think what I am doing is right, and there are other times I second-guess myself every step of the way. — Jodi Picoult

Other people's perfection is a facade we create when we are second guessing ourselves — Lisa Renee Jones

He smiled at her, handsome Alan, who was always used to getting his own way. He hadn't changed. Alan, who was already as faithless to Cinta as he had been to her. Suddenly, like a focus in binoculars, everything became clear. This was a man worth spending not one more minute thinking about, second-guessing or trying to understand. — Maeve Binchy

I am not second-guessing or questioning my understanding of the issue — Christine Maggiore

'cause only the Lord knows the heart of a man. ain't our job to be second-guessing. — Mary E. Pearson

So, that's the secret to happiness? Don't tak life seriously?" I ask.
"No," she says. "Take life seriously. That you have to do. Don't take yourself seriously, that's the key. Let it all go. Don't care for a second what people think of you. In fact, go out of your way to keep them guessing. — Katie Kacvinsky

You don't waste time on suspecting or second guessing when you confront. — Sunday Adelaja

Comedians second-guessing themselves is scary. Poor taste is not a crime and we can't forget that. — Jeff Ross

It seemed to me that these months of watching and listening, second-guessing words and phrases, seeking so much that was new, had somehow changed me. — Sara Sheridan

I feel like I'm adapting to society. I went feral a little bit. I found that when I would get back to the city, if there was any second-guessing about stuff, it would happen. — Luke Temple

I hate second-guessing other lawyers because I know that I've tried and lost cases, and somebody could sit there and say, 'Should have done it this way,' and they'd have been right. — Scott Turow

Devlen: Stop second-guessing yourself. Do what you need to do. Don't apologize. When the time comes, you'll know what is important and what isn't.
Opal: I thought you said there weren't any easy answer.
Devlen: I didn't say it would be easy. Sometimes being true to yourself is the hardest thing to do. — Maria V. Snyder

Here is how the universe works, whether it is in business or personal relationships. The more you second guess, doubt, and try to cover everything that could go wrong "before" you enter it, the more you will discover the need to do it. However the more you approach life and each new connection with open arms and trust, the more positive and elevating souls will enter your path in which none of the doubt is needed. Even the negative moments are positive lessons. — Carl Henegan

This felt right. Not just leaving, but how I was doing it. Without regret, without second guessing. And with Wes right there, holding the door open for me as I walked out into the light. — Sarah Dessen

When outcomes are uncertain, most of us spend a great deal of energy ruminating, worrying, and second-guessing ourselves. Not only is this a waste of time, but it makes us less likely to succeed — Melanie Greenberg

Confidence is everything. If you start second guessing yourself, you're bound to run into more bad outings — Trevor Hoffman

My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.
[The Science of Second-Guessing (New York Times Magazine Interview, December 12, 2004)] — Stephen Hawking

You get frustrated when you don't win and when you're not successful. You have to keep battling. You don't give up. You don't start second guessing yourself. — Daunte Culpepper

When I was in second grade, my teacher, Miss Maxwell, read from The Harmony Herald that one in every four children lived in China. I remember looking over the room, guessing which children they might be. I wasn't sure where China was, but suspected it was on bus route three. I recall being grateful I didn't live in China because I didn't care for Chinese food and couldn't speak the language. — Philip Gulley

Mistaken, always second guessing, underestimated, look I'm still around. — Pink

When our hopes for performance are not completely met, realistic optimism involves accepting what cannot now be changed, rather than condemning or second-guessing ourselves. Focusing on the successful aspects of performance (even when the success is modest) promotes positive affect, reduces self-doubt, and helps to maintain motivation (e.g., McFarland & Ross, 1982) ... Nevertheless, realistic optimism does not include or imply expectations that things will improve on their own. Wishful thinking of this sort typically has no reliable supporting evidence. Instead, the opportunity-seeking component of realistic optimism motivates efforts to improve future performances on the basis of what has been learned from past performances. — Sandra L. Schneider

As an artist, you have to maintain focus and eliminate the distraction of second-guessing yourself based on the opinions of others. — Dwight Yoakam

Even when you do the right thing, sometimes there are dire consequences. Second-guessing every step prevents any forward momentum. Trust yourself, forgive yourself and move on. — A.G. Howard

Accept the fact that you're an artist and stop second-guessing yourself. Just do it. — Julia Cameron

I promised myself no regrets," she whispered into the darkness. "No what-ifs, no second guessing. I promised myself that I was going to live my life, instead of always taking the safe route. — Susan Mallery

eyes. "Trust only those who fear you more than God. You got one life to live and don't waste it second-guessing yourself. — Tony Steele

You can choose who you want to be the hero [in Hard Candy], but youll be second-guessing yourself
theres just no right answer. Our society is obsessed with finding good and finding evil, but I think were all capable of anything. — Ellen Page

For someone attacked by criminals to be victimized a second time by a second-guessing legal system is wrong. — Wayne LaPierre

Oh, before I get carried away with my news - how are you? I hope you're doing all right and not second-guessing your decision to back away from your marriage plans. Honestly, though, I've been doing some of that here, but for different reasons, of course. Well, — Beverly Lewis

Voters tell politicians what they want through the ballot box. Constantly second-guessing them by speculating whether the parties should gang up on each other misses the point. — Nick Clegg

I don't get into that second guessing of myself publicly. — Stephen Harper

Whenever I got a shot, the team that selected me, I just promised myself that I would give them something that they wouldn't regret ... The Chicago Bears drafted me, and I'm going to make sure they're not second-guessing themselves about that. — Devin Hester

The dog's agenda is simple, fathomable, overt: I want. I want to go out, come in, eat something, lie here, play with that, kiss you. There are no ulterior motives with a dog, no mind games, no second-guessing, no complicated negotiations or bargains, and no guilt trips or grudges if a request is denied. — Caroline Knapp

Attosecond?" Gaston asked.
"I'm guessing it's a very, very small fraction of a second," I said.
"One quintillionth of a second," George said, without raising his head from his reader.
Jack pondered him. "Have you started memorizing random crap again to amuse yourself?"
"No, I'm connected to the wireless," George said. "I googled it. — Ilona Andrews

The more you understand how you receive guidance, the less time you will spend second guessing yourself and the more confidently you can be about the information you receive. — Catherine Carrigan

Do not bother yourself with what ifs — Jocelyn Murray

Our brains are no longer conditioned for reverence and awe. We cannot imagine a Second Coming that would not be cut down to size by the televised evening news, or a Last Judgment not subject to pages of holier-than-Thou second-guessing in The New York Review of Books. — John Updike

I think any start has to be a false start because really there's no way to start. You just have to force yourself to sit down and turn off the quality censor. And you have to keep the censor off, or you start second-guessing every other sentence. Sometimes the suspicion of a possible false start comes through, and you have to suppress it to keep writing. But it gets more persistent. And the moment you know it's really a false start is when you start ... it's hard to put into words. — Elif Batuman

I don't know when it happened, but somewhere between our first kiss and that first fuck, I came to the conclusion that Hailey needs sex. Good sex. And lots of it. I've caught glimpses of her steel, her confidence, her sexiness, usually in our online exchanges. But in person, it's like she's second-guessing herself all the time. The poor girl needs to get her mojo back, and I've decided I'm the man for the job. Just call me Matt the mojo maker. — Sarina Bowen

Second-guessing a Red Sox manager is like bemoaning Cape Cod traffic - it's a time-honored summer ritual. — Anonymous

When managers explain what their plan is without giving the reasons for it, people wonder what the "real" agenda is. There may be no hidden agenda, but you've succeeded in implying that there is one. Discussing the thought processes behind solutions aims the focus on the solutions, not on second-guessing. When we are honest, people know it. — Ed Catmull

Move forward with no second-guessing, no guilt trips, no hesitation. Your purpose is to recreate yourself anew in each moment. — Neale Donald Walsch

Life is pointless. Love is pointless. And still, wouldn't I do every second of it all over again?"
"I'm guessing yes."
"Undoubtedly. Yes. — Kiera Cass

When you're a father, you know exactly where your heart really is. There's no question of it, no doubt. That part of your life has no second guessing. — Fred Ward

There has never been a campaign where there hasn't been sniping from the outside and second-guessing. I hear the same sometimes from the Democratic side in terms of President Obama's campaign, so that's to be expected. — Rob Portman

But I still remained paralyzed by indecision, reluctance, and endless second-guessing ... — Emily Giffin

Possibly, there was something to be said for the intellectual discipline of second-guessing what you thought was true. — Kwame Anthony Appiah

Shouldn't let go of being educated," he said. "Universe spent a lot of time telling you something. Now you're second-guessing it. Maybe all those other things were getting you ready for this." Something — James S.A. Corey

Some thoughts should never be conceived. Some questions should never be asked, because they have no answer, and the questions themselves serve only to haunt with grinding guilt and second guessing. — Bobby Adair

I don't want to hear another word about my attitude. i don't want anyone looking over my shoulder, and I sure as hell don't want anyone second-guessing what I do. (Mitch Rapp) — Vince Flynn

Who are the 20% of people who produce 80% of your enjoyment and propel you forward, and which 20% cause 80% of your depression, anger, and second-guessing? — Timothy Ferriss

I question every move. I'm constantly second-guessing myself. — Mark Duplass

There is a difference between responsible criticism that aims for success and defeatism that refuses to acknowledge anything but failure. Hindsight alone is not wisdom, and second-guessing is not a strategy. — George W. Bush

You know what's interesting about Washington? It's the kind of place where second-guessing has become second nature. — George W. Bush

We all have demons but the only way to beat them is if you drag them into the light. Walk with your ghosts but don't let them own you. Always remember you did the best you could at that time, no second guessing about it because you can't. It happened that way and you can't change it so learn to live with it as best you can. And then leave it alone. — J.J. Snow

I don't know why I'm second-guessing Crevan's sanity - I'm sitting here talking to a hedgehog mime. — T. Kingfisher

The best people are always the worst. They drive everyone mad by being so good at second-guessing everything bad. — Criss Jami

Managers have people second-guessing them all the time. — Don Mattingly

But now was not the time for second-guessing, nor was it the time for compassion. Now was the time for death, quick and brutal and terrible. — James Hunter

Being a parent is one of the best, stressful, guilty, rewarding, sad, happy, frustrating, cherished, disgusting, fun, ridiculous, time consuming, joyful, maddening, worrisome, hectic, magical, nostalgic, second guessing, warm, cuddly, thing one can spend the rest of their life doing. I wouldn't have it any other way! — Brenda Lochinger

Bliss, I don't normally do things like that. But I was second-guessing everything about coming here, and you were everything I needed. I don't know how many times I've stopped myself from coming over here and knocking on your door. And yes, seeing you with Cade was definitely motivation, but more than that ... I just like you, Bliss. As a teacher. As a person. As a guy. — Cora Carmack

Doubt is my boon companion, the faithful St. Bernard ever at my side. Whether writing essays or just going about daily life, I am constantly second-guessing myself. My mind is filled with 'yes, buts,' 'so whats?' and other skeptical rejoinders. I am forever monitoring myself for traces of folly, insensitivity, arrogance, false humility, cruelty, stupidity, immaturity and, guess what, I keep finding examples. Age has not made me wiser, except maybe in retrospect. — Phillip Lopate