Acting in Haste

The saying “act in haste, repent at leisure” is typically a warning that means “if you make a hasty decision, you’ll have plenty of time to mull over your mistake later.” It’s likely a variation of an older version, “Marry in haste, repent at leisure.” David Foster Wallace had a most apt use of the phrase in his novel Infinite Jest: “The shopworn ‘Act in Haste, Repent at Leisure’ would seem to have been custom-designed for the case of tattoos.” Be it a tattoo or a marriage, it’s wise to think about the consequences before you act. This is part of a complete episode.