“I tend to think too much, Bast. My greatest successes came from decisions I made when I stopped thinking and simply did what felt right. Even if there was no good explanation for what I did." He smiled wistfully. "Even if there were very good reasons for me not to do what I did."Bast ran a hand along the side of his face. "So you're trying to avoid second-guessing yourself?"Kote hesitated. "You could say that," he admitted. "I could say that, Reshi," Bast said smugly. "You, on the other hand, would complicate things needlessly.”
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Quote Analysis
In this quote from Patrick Rothfuss' novel, the character Kote reflects on the balance between overthinking and trusting his instincts. He admits that his greatest successes came from following his gut and doing what felt right, even when it defied logic or rationality. This internal struggle between overthinking and following one's intuition is a common theme in the story, as Kote grapples with self-doubt and the fear of making mistakes. The conversation with Bast highlights the importance of trusting oneself and not giving in to the temptation of second-guessing every decision.
Modern Relevance:
In today's fast-paced and constantly changing world, there is often a lot of pressure to overthink decisions and second-guess ourselves. This quote from Patrick Rothfuss's book reminds us of the importance of trusting our instincts and making decisions based on what feels right, even if there may not be a clear explanation for our actions. It serves as a reminder to not complicate things needlessly and to have confidence in our abilities to make the right choices.
Example of Usage:
In this passage from Patrick Rothfuss' novel, "The Name of the Wind," the characters Kote and Bast discuss the importance of trusting one's instincts and not overthinking decisions. Kote admits that he tends to overanalyze his choices, while Bast encourages him to follow his gut and avoid unnecessary complications. This exchange highlights the struggle between logic and intuition in decision-making.
Reflection Questions
This passage from Patrick Rothfuss's novel brings up an interesting concept of following your instincts versus overthinking decisions. Reflect on the following questions to delve deeper into this theme:
Have there been times in your life where you made a decision based on instinct rather than logic? What was the outcome?
How do you typically approach decision-making – are you more inclined to overthink or follow your gut feeling?
Reflect on a time when you may have overanalyzed a situation and ended up complicating things needlessly. What did you learn from that experience?
How do you think the balance between instinct and logical reasoning plays a role in making decisions in your personal and professional life?
In what ways can you practice trusting your instincts more and avoiding second-guessing yourself in the future?
Similar quotes
“What were you thinking?" Bast said with an odd mixture of confusion and concern.Coat was a long while in answering. "I tend to think too much Bast. My greatest successes tended to come when I stopped thinking and simply did what felt right, even if there was no explantion for what I did.”
“Chronicler froze. 'So you're saying I work for you?''I'm saying you belong to me.' Bast's face was deadly serious. 'Down to the marrow of your bones.”
“You are an educated man. You know there are no such things as demons." Bast smiled a terrible smile. "There is only my kind." Bast leaned closer still, Chronicler smelled flowers on his breath. "You are not wise enough to fear me as I should be feared. You do not know the first note of the music that moves me.”
“What do they do to students at the University who eavesdrop?” Bast asked curiously.“I haven’t the slightest idea. I was never caught. I think making you sit and listen to the rest of my story should be punishment enough.”
“He hesitated, then lifted his head and sniffed. “Have you been drinking?” The question was more curious than accusatory. “No,” Bast said. The innkeeper raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been tasting,” Bast said, emphasizing the word. “Tasting comes before drinking.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Chronicler snapped. "You're just spouting nonsense now.""I'm spouting too much sense for you to understand," Bast said testily.”