Ah! still awhile the old thought retain,
And yet consider it again!

Ah! still awhile the old thought retain,
And yet consider it again!

Thought once awakened does not again slumber.

Thought once awakened does not again slumber.

Any man may make a mistake; none but a fool will stick to it.
Second thoughts are best as read more

Any man may make a mistake; none but a fool will stick to it.
Second thoughts are best as the proverb says.
[Lat., Cujusvis hominis est errare; nullius, nisi insipientis, in
errore perseverae. Posteriores enim cogitationes (ut aiunt)
sapientiores solent esse.]

Old things need not be therefore true,
O brother men, nor yet the new;
Ah! still awhile read more

Old things need not be therefore true,
O brother men, nor yet the new;
Ah! still awhile the old thought retain,
And yet consider it again!

I'll put that in my considering cap.

I'll put that in my considering cap.

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought read more

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

Men's first thoughts in this matter are generally better than
their second; their natural notions better than those refin'd read more

Men's first thoughts in this matter are generally better than
their second; their natural notions better than those refin'd by
study, or consultation with casuists.
- Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury,

Thought must be divided against itself before it can come to any knowledge of itself.

Thought must be divided against itself before it can come to any knowledge of itself.

My thoughts ran a wool-gathering.

My thoughts ran a wool-gathering.