When in doubt, don't.

The counsel of Benjamin Franklin, “When in doubt, don’t,” is brief as a thunderclap, yet deep as an ocean. In its simplicity lies the armor of wisdom. To act in haste when the heart is clouded with uncertainty is to invite ruin, for what is doubt but the voice of conscience whispering caution? The ancients held that silence is sometimes stronger than speech, and restraint is often mightier than action. Franklin, master of prudence, gave this maxim as a lantern to those who walk the narrow path of decision.

For doubt is no enemy—it is the guardian at the gate, warning that the way ahead is unclear. To disregard it is to step into battle blindfolded, risking more than glory can repay. The wise do not fear pausing, for patience ripens truth, just as the sun ripens the fruit. A hasty deed may bind a man in chains, but a withheld hand rarely brings regret. Thus, Franklin’s words command us to respect the voice of hesitation, to let time unveil the hidden snare.

History offers its witness. Consider the tale of King Croesus of Lydia, who sought to wage war upon mighty Persia. He consulted the Oracle of Delphi, and received the cryptic reply: “If you cross the river, you will destroy a great empire.” Inflamed with ambition, he acted despite his doubt, believing the prophecy spoke of Persia’s fall. Yet it was his own empire that perished. Had Croesus heeded the unease within him, had he remembered, “When in doubt, don’t,” he might have preserved his throne and people. Instead, his haste carved his downfall.

Franklin’s wisdom, though born in the fires of a young America, is as old as the stars. It is the teaching that restraint is not weakness but strength. To stand still while others rush is the mark of the disciplined soul. To hold back when the heart trembles is to honor the inner guide, and in that stillness lies the power to choose rightly when the veil of uncertainty lifts.

Therefore, let the young and the bold learn this: when the path is misty, do not run headlong, for the abyss may lie hidden beneath your feet. Let your doubt be the herald of reflection, and in that reflection, find clarity. For the one who can master himself in hesitation shall master fate itself.