🤔 To Be of Two Minds: The Power of Indecision
be of/in two minds, to - To be unable to decide, to be in doubt. This turn of phrase goes back to the early sixteenth century, although the number two was not fixed. Jehan Palsgrave wrote (1530), “I am of dyverse myndes,” and in the eighteenth century several writers came up with as many as twenty minds. Dickens used both—“I was in twenty minds at once” (David Copperfield) and “. . . was in two minds about fighting or accepting a pardon” (A Child’s History of England).
Synonyms
- Fence-sitting: Staying neutral and undecided in a situation.
- Hesitation hits: Experiencing moments of indecisiveness.
- On the fence: Another way to express indecision.
Antonyms
- Resolute: Firmly determined.
- Decisive: Making decisions quickly and effectively.
- Single-minded: Focused and determined, the opposite of having multiple minds.
Similar Expressions & Phrases:
- Split mind: Feeling confused with options.
- Mind-wrestling: Internal struggle over choices.
- Torn between options: Having difficulty choosing between two possibilities.
Humor-filled Quote:
“Sometimes I feel like I have two minds, but only one brain cell to share between them.” - Anonymous
Proverbs:
“A divided [wo]man cannot stand.” — rough take on Abraham Lincoln’s quote, applied to decision-making.
Literature References:
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens 📚: “I was in twenty minds at once.”
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare 🎭: To be or not to be - reflecting the ultimate dilemma.
Song Recommendation:
- “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash 🎶
Reflects the struggle of being undecided in a catchy recipe of punk rock vibes.
Movie Recommendation:
- Sliding Doors (1998) 🎬
This film starring Gwyneth Paltrow explores how a slight decision can create vastly different parallel lives.
Time for a Quiz🎉
Parting Thought:
“Indecision may or may not be the bane of creativity. But sometimes, in the growing chaos of two minds, brilliant ideas sizzle out.” — J. P. Quirkalot
Farewell, and may your mind always find its way through the labyrinth of choices! 🌟
