Quote by Abai Qunanbaiuly: “Do not be hasty in words or deeds; think before you act.”

The gap between impulse and action is where wisdom lives. Acting too quickly on emotion or instinct often makes things worse. Taking a moment to think — about consequences, about other people, about what you actually want — is not hesitation; it is the responsible use of the intelligence you have.

These words appear in Abai's Book of Words, his major collection of philosophical prose poems. He was writing for a Kazakh audience that was navigating dramatic social and political change under Russian colonial administration. His counsel toward restraint and reflection was partly a response to the violence and instability that hasty action could bring in that context.

Kazakh poet, composer, and philosopher who is considered the founder of modern Kazakh written literature. His Book of Words, a collection of verse and prose meditations, is a foundational text of Kazakh culture. He advocated for education, humanistic values, and engagement with Russian and European thought while preserving Kazakh traditions.