To think carefully and repeatedly before taking action; to exercise caution and deliberation.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Ji Wenzi, a high-ranking official of the State of Lu, was known for his extreme caution. He insisted on practicing '三思而行' (think thrice before acting) in everything, meaning he would consider things multiple times before deciding whether to do them or not.
Confucius, however, did not fully agree with his approach. He believed that 'thinking twice' (再思) was usually sufficient, and that 'thinking thrice' (三思) might lead to indecision, being overly concerned about potential gains and losses, and ultimately hindering action.
Nevertheless, one should always analyze problems objectively from multiple perspectives.