Welcome to another chapter of “The Dictionary of Clichés: A Word Lover’s Guide to Overused Phrases and Almost-Pleasing Platitudes.” Today, we explore the cerebral wrestling match famously known as After Reconsidering, a phrase that symbolizes gaining wisdom—or waffling like a fiend—when announcing a change of opinion.
Similar Terms and Expressions:
- On second thought
- Upon reflection
- On further consideration
- Having second thoughts
- Rethinking
Proverbs and Expressions:
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Hindsight is 20/20
Vision becomes clearer only after we reflect on what has transpired.
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Better late than never
Sometimes taking more time can lead to better decisions, even if it’s belated.
-
Forethought is better than afterthought
For every Euripides, there’s an equally insistent Sir Francis Bacon or Cicero standing steadfast on the importance of initial impulses.
Educational Tidbit:
The history of “After Reconsidering” reveals an ongoing philosophical debate:
- Euripides: Ancient Greek playwright who poetically held that “Second thoughts are best.”
- Sir Francis Bacon: Advocate for the importance of finding wisdom in reflection.
- Cicero: Roman philosopher who also championed the idea of second thoughts as steps toward deeper understanding.
- John Dryden: English poet sticking with the reflective crowd.
On the flipside:
- Lord Byron: Believing that first instincts were typically purer and more authentic.
- Robert Fitzgerald: The literary translator often leaned into original intuitions.
- Earl of Shaftesbury: Clear as daylight in his stance: “Men’s first thoughts are generally better than their second.”
Synonyms and Antonyms:
- Synonyms: reappraisal, reevaluation, rethink, double take.
- Antonyms: first impulse, gut feeling, snap judgment, spur-of-the-moment.
Humor-filled Quotes:
- “My baker’s dozen of muses always tell me, ‘Why have second thoughts when your first were deliciously impulsive?’” —Chef Tritate
Literary and Cultural References:
Books:
- Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (Explores the power and pitfalls of instant cognition versus reflective reconsideration)
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (A deep dive into the dichotomy of spontaneous decisions versus reflective thoughts)
Movies:
- Sliding Doors (Illustrating how different our lives can be based on a moment’s decision or second thoughts)
- Run Lola Run (A tale of reconsideration and the twists of fate following initial decisions)
Songs:
- “Changes” by David Bowie (A perfect soundtrack to those moments of introspection and reconsideration)
- “Second Chance” by Shinedown (Sometimes all we need is another shot to get it just right)
Intriguing Thought:
Given the diametrically opposed perspectives offered by history’s heavy thinkers, isn’t it possible that second thoughts and first instincts could be best friends on our road to wisdom, each helping us to readjust our life’s compass?
Quizzes:
And thus, dear reader, the labyrinth of thoughts and second-guessing unfolds. Here’s a final inspiration as you ponder your decisions:
“Second thoughts might bring regrets, or they might bring wisdom, but above all, they bring perspective. And isn’t that a treasure all its own?”
—W. T. Wittywords, 2023
