When in Doubt, Kiss the Fish — And Other Extremely Wise Advice
by John Kremerand Friends
People will accept your ideas much more readily if you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it first. — David H. Comins
When in doubt, quote Franklin. — anonymous
Copyright © 2007 by John Kremer
All rights reserved.
Illustrations by Phil Frank
Copyright © 1993 by Creative Media Services
Open Horizons
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Web: http://www.waybackwords.com
A
The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth. — Pierre Abelard, priest
If you had any doubt about that, Lady Elaine, you might have asked. After all, you have words and that's what words are for, aren't they? — Lady Betty Aberlin
When in doubt, kiss the fish. — Jonathan Adolph
He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions. — Louisa May Alcott, novelist
Laugh at yourself, but don't ever aim your doubt at yourself. Be bold. When you embark for strange places, don't leave any of yourself safely on shore. Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory. — Alan Alda, actor
When in doubt, don't. — Lamar Alexander, Lamar Alexander's Little Plaid Book
When in doubt, abstain. — Alexei Alexandrovich, character in Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
When in doubt, close your eyes. Think of England. — Amos, Israeli agent in The Assignment movie
When in doubt, act like a gorilla. — Antoine, director character in Early Edition TV show
When in doubt, make like Donald Trump. — Jennifer Armstrong, Entertainment Weekly
If you doubt yourself, wear something else. — AussieBum magazine advertisement
B
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties. — Francis Bacon, philosopher
Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is—it is her shadow. — Philip James Bailey, poet
When in doubt, you can always consult. — Ryan Bakken, journalist
Weary the path that does not challenge. Doubt is an incentive to truth and patient inquiry leadeth the way. — Hosea Ballou, preacher
In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity. — Richard Baxter, Puritan
When in doubt, leave it at home. — Michael Becraft
When you’re up to your nose in shit, keep your mouth shut. — Jack Beauregard, character in My Name Is Nobody movie
When in doubt, peel out. — Alex Blagg, blogger, Blogg Blogg
If the Sun and Moon should ever doubt, they’d immediately go out. — William Blake, poet and artist
When in doubt, wear red. — Bill Blass, fashion designer
Guidelines for bureaucrats: 1) When in charge, ponder. 2) When in trouble, delegate. 3) When in doubt, mumble. — James H. Boren
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself. — Christine Bovee
I have a rule that has served me well in life. When in doubt, do nothing. If you're not sure, don't buy it, don't comment, don't commit. Sit tight. — Tempe Brennan, forensic anthropologist in Kathy Reich's Deja Dead
Remember, when in doubt, you should never do what you truly want to do. — Nathan Bronfman, character in Human Nature movie
When in doubt, cut to the skyline. — Jamie Buchman, character in Mad About You TV show (reading a fortune cookie)
There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills. — Buddha, founder of Buddhism
Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair. — Edmund Burke, British statesman
When in doubt, DO something. If it turns out to be wrong, correct it. But you will never know until you do it. — Ivan Burnell, author
C
When in doubt, end with a quote. — Michael Cader, book producer
When all else fails, read the instructions. — Cahn's Axiom
If you are ever in doubt as to whether to kiss a pretty girl, always give her the benefit of the doubt. — Thomas Carlyle, philosopher
When in doubt, just cook it. — Mary Carmichael
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. — Dale Carnegie, motivational author
When in doubt, my dears, take an extreme case. — Lewis Carroll, author
Remember, when in doubt, throw it to Carter! — Chris Carter, football receiver
When in doubt, eat. — Lisa Cates, character in August Fires movie
When in doubt, have somebody enter the room with a gun. — Raymond Chandler, detective novelist
When in doubt, have two guys come through the door with guns. — Raymond Chandler, detective novelist
When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed. — Harry Chapman
Whenever you have doubts about something, communicate! Talk, talk, talk until the problem resolves. When you feel stress, disagreement or resistance between you and someone near you, the wrong thing to do is ignore the problem. Instead, start communicating. — Mike Chatelain, author, TipsForSuccess.org
If you listen, one day you might be heard. And when in doubt, use the smell test. — Maurice Chavez, character in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City video game
The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums. — Gilbert Keith Chesterton, novelist, Orthodoxy
Great doubts, deep wisdom. Small doubts, little wisdom. — Chinese proverb
When in doubt, buy your man a cordless drill. It does not matter if he already has one. I have a friend who owns 17 and he has yet to complain. As a man, you can never have too many cordless drills. No one knows why. — Christmas Gift Ideas for Men
Nearly all societies have the instinct is to lock up anybody who is truly free. First, society begins by trying to beat you up. If this fails, they try to poison you. If this fails too, they finish by loading honors on your head. — Winston Churchill, British prime minister
By doubting we come to truth. — Cicero, philosopher and orator
When in doubt, lie your head off. — Brian Cloughley, journalist, CounterPunch
If all else fails, issue an ultimatum. — married husband with child, Cold Feet TV show
When in doubt, just say, “But how do you feel about that?” — Tess Coleman, character in Freaky Friday movie
When you have nothing to say, say nothing. — Charles Caleb Colton, author
Doubt is the vestibule which all must pass before they can enter the temple of wisdom. When we are in doubt and puzzle out the truth by our own exertions, we have gained something that will stay by us and will serve us again. But if to avoid the trouble of the search we avail ourselves of the superior information of a friend, such knowledge will not remain with us; we have not bought, but borrowed it. — Charles Caleb Colton, author
When in doubt, delete it. — Philip Cosby
When in doubt, check him out. — Joseph Culligan, book title
When in doubt, sling effort at it. — George W. Cummings, Sr.
When in doubt, mull. — Mario Cuomo, governor
D
Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt. — Clarence Darrow, attorney
If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things. — Rene Descartes, philosopher
The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt. — Rene Descartes
When in doubt, find another sponsor. When in trouble, hire a wrangler. Because there’s never enough time. And there never will be. — Hilary De Vries, entertainment journalist, The Gift Bag Chronicles
When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried. — Dilbert's Laws of Work
When in doubt, do as the Romans do. — Hugh D. Dillehay
When in doubt, give a book. — Discount Portland Guide
In my book, if you fail at donuts, you’ve failed at life. — donut manager, character in Madonna: Innocence Lost TV movie
When in doubt, I’ve found retracing your steps a wise place to begin. — Albus Dumbledore, character in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie
E
If in doubt, farm it out. — The Economist magazine headline
Two people only hurt each other if they doubt the love they have for one another. — Tom Edison, character in Dogville movie
Real love is more than a physical feeling. If there's even the slightest doubt in your head about a guy, then forget about it. It's not real. — Ethan Embry
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist
When in doubt, ask your tailor. — Esquire magazine’s The New Laws of Fashion
Freedom of speech and freedom of action are meaningless without freedom to think. And there is no freedom of thought without doubt. — Bergen Evans, author, The Natural History of Nonsense
F
There is no harm in doubt and skepticism, for it is through these that new discoveries are made. — Richard Feynman, physicist
What every computer consultant needs to know: 1) In case of doubt, make it sound convincing. 2) Do not believe in miracles. Rely on them. — Finagle's Rules
When in doubt, don’t pitch it out. — football option rule
If you don't know what to do with many of the papers piled on your desk, stick a dozen colleagues' initials on 'em, and pass them along. When in doubt, route. — Malcolm Forbes, magazine publisher
When in doubt, duck. — Malcolm Forbes, magazine publisher
When in doubt, make a western. — John Ford, movie director
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, home, Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. — Saint Francis of Assisi, Prayer of St. Francis
When in doubt, don’t. — Ben Franklin, inventor, patriot, scientist, author, publisher, statesman
When in doubt, medicate. — Dr. Ian Frechette, character in Cupid TV show
When in doubt, destroy. Even if you go down with your captive. — J. E. Freedman, Above the Law
When in doubt, gallop! — proverb of the French Foreign Legion
When in doubt, just include those four letters we all love
to see in print—FREE. — Albert Fried-Cassorla
G
When in doubt, don’t think too much. Close your eyes, play, and have fun. — Dave Gage, author, Harmonica Lessons.com
When in doubt, get up off the chair and stand up for practicing and jamming to facilitate good breathing habits. Try to stand erect with your head up, back straight, and body relaxed. — Dave Gage, author, Harmonica Lessons.com
When in doubt, lick your lips. — Dave Gage, author, Harmonica Lessons.com
Doubt is the father of invention. — Galileo Galilei, astronomer
When in doubt, call a pro. — Jackie Gallogly, marketing technology officer, Inbox Interactive
If in doubt, always follow your nose. —Gandalf the wizard in The Fellowship of the Ring movie
When in doubt, do without. — Samuel ben Hofni Gaon, rabbi
When in doubt, apply booze. — Luke Garrison, character in novel, Above the Law by J. E. Freedman
When in doubt, don’t. — Saul Gellerman, academic
For the truly faithful, no miracle is necessary. For those who doubt, no miracle is sufficient. — Nancy Gibbs
Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. — Andre Gidé, novelist and critic
If you must tell me your opinions, tell me what you believe in. I have plenty of doubts of my own. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, poet and essayist
We know accurately only when we know little; with knowledge doubt increases. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, poet and essayist
When in doubt, peddle disinformation. — Dave Goldberg, football writer
When in doubt, go defense. — Dave Goldberg, football writer
A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. — Arthur Golden, novelist, Memoirs of a Geisha
It is a great thing to know exactly what to do in an emergency. When in doubt whether to attack or retreat, I never hesitate a moment. I toss a copper. — Gordon Granger, general
When in doubt, do more homework. — Andy Green
When in doubt, trust your instincts. — Andy Green
When in doubt, go with the little voice in your head. — Andy Green
When in doubt, ask what your mom would do. — Andy Green
When in doubt, ask what would a horse do in this situation. — Andy Green