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Dance First, Think Later: 618 Rules to Live by
Timeless in their wisdom, thought-provoking in their message, surprising in their truth and memorable in their originality, the right words can give direction, inspiration, and sometimes a tangible boost onto the right path. For example, Steve Jobs once read “Stay hungry Stay foolish” on the back cover of The Whole Earth Catalog , and those four words came to guide his life.
Created by Kathryn and Ross Petras, connoisseurs of quotes, whose books and calendars have over 56 million copies in print, "Dance First. Think Later." is a collection of the greatest life wisdom from an unexpected group of speakers, doers, and thinkers. There are 618 rules to live by—funny, sly, declarative, thoughtful, offhanded, clever, and always
“Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.” —Roald Dahl
“If everything is under control, you are going too slow.” —Mario Andretti
“Never make a credit decision on a beach.” —Victor J. Boschini
“Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” —Samuel Beckett
“The only time to eat diet food is while waiting for the steak to cook.” —Julia Child
“What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight; build it anyway.” —Mother Teresa
“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” —Oscar Wilde
Created by Kathryn and Ross Petras, connoisseurs of quotes, whose books and calendars have over 56 million copies in print, "Dance First. Think Later." is a collection of the greatest life wisdom from an unexpected group of speakers, doers, and thinkers. There are 618 rules to live by—funny, sly, declarative, thoughtful, offhanded, clever, and always
“Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.” —Roald Dahl
“If everything is under control, you are going too slow.” —Mario Andretti
“Never make a credit decision on a beach.” —Victor J. Boschini
“Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” —Samuel Beckett
“The only time to eat diet food is while waiting for the steak to cook.” —Julia Child
“What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight; build it anyway.” —Mother Teresa
“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” —Oscar Wilde
425 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2011
190 people are currently reading
2344 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 17, 2013
Well I can't say I read it as a book since it contains quotes. I read several quotes a day and sometime there is good quote which relate with my situation and somehow enlighten me.
The quotes itself is not popular quotes I used to read/hear in my life. Most of them is new for me and almost all of them is being said by just ordinary person who work some profession. Some of it is a very common sentences actually which somehow when correct person at the correct time say it, it become a very powerfully words.
I spend a long time to finish it since like I said I can't read it as a book. I need some break after several quotes. Even sometime I just need one and it's enough for day. On the other hand after I finished it, I think I can still open a random pages which probably can contribute some inspiration on my day. So I will keep this book reachable on my office desk.
The quotes itself is not popular quotes I used to read/hear in my life. Most of them is new for me and almost all of them is being said by just ordinary person who work some profession. Some of it is a very common sentences actually which somehow when correct person at the correct time say it, it become a very powerfully words.
I spend a long time to finish it since like I said I can't read it as a book. I need some break after several quotes. Even sometime I just need one and it's enough for day. On the other hand after I finished it, I think I can still open a random pages which probably can contribute some inspiration on my day. So I will keep this book reachable on my office desk.
March 6, 2011
Dear Hubby is always saying nice things to me. That is great but I was not at all use to it when we first met. I did not know how to accept a compliment. So I made it into our personal joke. He would say something nice and I would tease him that he had a lil black book of compliments. And just what page was that one on? Well over time I have learned to accept what he says as his truth to me. But we still have the running joke.
It would be nice to have a lil book to tell you of the nice things to say to someone. Or better yet to say to yourself. We often forget to boost our own self esteem. And loving quotes the way I do to leave on Twitter, Facebook, taped to my mirror and such...well I have just the right thing for me! "Dance First. Think Later." is a lil white book with 618 rules to live by. My very own lil book to quote from. Now I can go head to head with my Dear Hubby. And the Dance part....perfect. You know my saying is "There is always time to DANCE!" With 425 pages, I am now armed with great quotes.
Wanna try me? Give me a number and we will see. Okay, you picked 130. Let's go see.
Rule #130:
Put all of your eggs in one basket and watch the basket.-Carl Sandburg, Writer
Well that makes sense. If your going to put all of your eggs in one basket you better watch it.
Okay, again? Here we go.
Rule #575 says:
Never go out to meet trouble. If you will just sit still, nine cases times out of ten, someone will intercept it for you.-Calvin Coolidge, President
Oh yes, that is one to agree with and to listen to. How often do we race out and meet trouble. I know I have done it way to often. And there are more. Such as:
• "Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you."-Annie Dillard
• "If everything is under control, you are going too slow." -Mario Andretti
• "The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." -Julia Child
• "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." ―Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
• "Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity." ―Ray Bradbury
But one on my favorites right now is rule #398:
Nobody should give a shit about an actor's opinion on politics.-James Cann, actor.
Amen to that one!
It would be nice to have a lil book to tell you of the nice things to say to someone. Or better yet to say to yourself. We often forget to boost our own self esteem. And loving quotes the way I do to leave on Twitter, Facebook, taped to my mirror and such...well I have just the right thing for me! "Dance First. Think Later." is a lil white book with 618 rules to live by. My very own lil book to quote from. Now I can go head to head with my Dear Hubby. And the Dance part....perfect. You know my saying is "There is always time to DANCE!" With 425 pages, I am now armed with great quotes.
Wanna try me? Give me a number and we will see. Okay, you picked 130. Let's go see.
Rule #130:
Put all of your eggs in one basket and watch the basket.-Carl Sandburg, Writer
Well that makes sense. If your going to put all of your eggs in one basket you better watch it.
Okay, again? Here we go.
Rule #575 says:
Never go out to meet trouble. If you will just sit still, nine cases times out of ten, someone will intercept it for you.-Calvin Coolidge, President
Oh yes, that is one to agree with and to listen to. How often do we race out and meet trouble. I know I have done it way to often. And there are more. Such as:
• "Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you."-Annie Dillard
• "If everything is under control, you are going too slow." -Mario Andretti
• "The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." -Julia Child
• "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." ―Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
• "Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity." ―Ray Bradbury
But one on my favorites right now is rule #398:
Nobody should give a shit about an actor's opinion on politics.-James Cann, actor.
Amen to that one!
July 29, 2016
Ok, firstly, this is a great little book of quotes. Not all of them are great, but there were quite a few that I liked and a small set that was thought-provoking.
However, I can't find a book that is simply a curation of quotes to be amazing.
Let's face it, I can come across great quotes on Quotes Daddy.
And the subtitle? 618 Rules to live by? I found witty quotes, but not much that I would live by.
It seems so easy to publish a book that you had very little creative input into.
However, I can't find a book that is simply a curation of quotes to be amazing.
Let's face it, I can come across great quotes on Quotes Daddy.
And the subtitle? 618 Rules to live by? I found witty quotes, but not much that I would live by.
It seems so easy to publish a book that you had very little creative input into.
April 10, 2024
Pulled off the shelf and read cover to cover in my hubby's office while waiting for him to wrap up for the day. Found a few quotes to be cute and impactful but overall it was just meh.
Left me wishing I hadn't left my book in the car....
Left me wishing I hadn't left my book in the car....
May 30, 2016
I was thinking about the title of this book for a long time. I have no doubt that thinking before doing anything is important -at least for me- but the title made me shift my thoughts a little to the other side of the whole thing and I asked myself: Is It necessarily a good thing? To think before everything? Sometimes you have to just act--whether it's dancing or writing or jumping. I realized that some of the achievements in my life were made completely spontaneously-- I did not think, I just wrote or just reacted based on my feeling.
I read several quotes a day. Some of the quotes are often related to things I am thinking about at the time. I like to read these kind of books in the morning with my coffee, thinking about each quote. Sometimes it only takes one line to open up a lot of ideas for me.
It was a great gift from a dear friend who knows me very well, and knows not to give me an ordinary book of daily reflections.
I read several quotes a day. Some of the quotes are often related to things I am thinking about at the time. I like to read these kind of books in the morning with my coffee, thinking about each quote. Sometimes it only takes one line to open up a lot of ideas for me.
It was a great gift from a dear friend who knows me very well, and knows not to give me an ordinary book of daily reflections.
June 18, 2012
It's an inspiring book, quoting from famous people. My favourites :
"Sometimes you have to be a bitch to get things done." -Madonna, singer
"Laugh at yourself first before anyone else can."-Elsa Maxwell, socialite
"If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail. "- Heracleitus, Greek Philosopher
"Sometimes you have to be a bitch to get things done." -Madonna, singer
"Laugh at yourself first before anyone else can."-Elsa Maxwell, socialite
"If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail. "- Heracleitus, Greek Philosopher
February 25, 2020
Never spend money before you have it.
- Thomas Jefferson
- Thomas Jefferson
March 22, 2020
A bunch of inspirational quotes. I did in fact read it from cover to cover!
a few of my favorites:
"Life is bristling with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to cultivate one's garden." ~Voltaire
"Never go out to meet trouble. If you just sit still, nine times out of ten someone will intercept it for you." ~Calvin Coolidge
"Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that." ~ Michael Leunig
"You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it." ~ Jimmy Dean
"In case you ever foolishly forget: I am never not thinking of you." ~Virginia Woolf
"Any worthwhile expedition can be planned on the back of an envelope." ~ Harold W Tillman
"If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll be they'd live a lot differently." ~Bill Watterson
(Anyone who quotes Bill Watterson is OK in my book!)
a few of my favorites:
"Life is bristling with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to cultivate one's garden." ~Voltaire
"Never go out to meet trouble. If you just sit still, nine times out of ten someone will intercept it for you." ~Calvin Coolidge
"Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that." ~ Michael Leunig
"You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it." ~ Jimmy Dean
"In case you ever foolishly forget: I am never not thinking of you." ~Virginia Woolf
"Any worthwhile expedition can be planned on the back of an envelope." ~ Harold W Tillman
"If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll be they'd live a lot differently." ~Bill Watterson
(Anyone who quotes Bill Watterson is OK in my book!)
January 21, 2021
I bought this book on a whim one evening when walking through a bookshop, on a date. I buy alot of books and this is one of the books I flick through most. In fact, I carry it with me every time I travel because it's just nice to flick through and get some inspiration. Enjoy it!
October 16, 2021
I like the idea behind the book but there are quotes within that starkly contradict each other.
Now I understand, it's for each one of us to take required and appropriate inspiration from the quotes but you cannot have a quote which condones being punctual (which is the obvious thing to do) while have another one that promotes against it.
Now I understand, it's for each one of us to take required and appropriate inspiration from the quotes but you cannot have a quote which condones being punctual (which is the obvious thing to do) while have another one that promotes against it.
June 24, 2022
Just a random collection of quotes that you can find on the Internet. It feels author has just collected their favorite quotes and turned into book.
There is no value addition. Some organization, categorization, and explanations would've helped.
2 stars for some new, enlightening quotes I found. Not for the book - for the quotes.
There is no value addition. Some organization, categorization, and explanations would've helped.
2 stars for some new, enlightening quotes I found. Not for the book - for the quotes.
April 2, 2023
I always had a soft spot for quotes as concise transfers of wisdom. Just like statistics, there's a good quote to support about every viewpoint or situation.
I paid the book 9 euro; and definitely found many new quotes that inspired me, or made me laugh.
70% percent did not, or were quite cliché.
ROI enough for me, and better than screen time. ;)
I paid the book 9 euro; and definitely found many new quotes that inspired me, or made me laugh.
70% percent did not, or were quite cliché.
ROI enough for me, and better than screen time. ;)
January 29, 2024
I don't think one can ever finish reading a book like this. There were however a lot of contradictory quotes in this book, for example there'll be a quote asking you to go all in and then the next quote will be telling you to quit after your third trial and move on.
There were however a handful of really great quotes that I plan on standing by.
There were however a handful of really great quotes that I plan on standing by.
May 22, 2022
Fantastic one! Authors covered the sayings of Sun Tzu to Confucius, Benjamin Franklin. It's so grateful to find it all in one place.
If you find any useless rules from this book, please remember a saying from the same book, "There is no useful rule without an exception".
If you find any useless rules from this book, please remember a saying from the same book, "There is no useful rule without an exception".
July 10, 2022
Great collection of quotes from a wide variety of individuals! Enjoyed them and of course had heard many of them over the years. Nice to be able to read and reflect on them all in one place! Enjoyable read!😎
April 22, 2023
There are some good stuff here but I can count them fast...it's really hard to take one-liners seriously without any context, it just felt like I'm being passed from one idea to another. It was confusing and boring.
I wish it was categorized or organized in another way.
I wish it was categorized or organized in another way.
July 2, 2023
A book full of inspirational quotes about enjoying your life. Didn't resonate with me particularly. She crams multiple quotes on a small page which took away from enjoying it much as I might have otherwise.
June 29, 2025
3.5 rounded up - there's a lot of hit or miss quotes in here, but mainly due to their relationship to who said the quote. It's a good thing that the profession of the quoted individual is listed otherwise - awkward. Many are very specific to the profession of the individual.
October 31, 2020
The quotes lacked diversity of authors with several quotes appearing from the same people as well as lacked diversity in substance/content.
January 11, 2021
A book of quotes doesn't hold much appeal for me, but there's so many in here everyone is bound to find something they like
Read
June 30, 2021Good
July 6, 2021
Really enjoyed all 4 of these little quotable books that I've read.
October 15, 2021
I read this book... and the fact, it's just several quotes lmao. It's nice to give affirmations for my self. But idk, it's make me bored..
November 11, 2021
Buku yang menarik untuk dikoleksi dan dibaca berulang-ulang
December 4, 2021
The best book
January 5, 2022
I read it as a book, is only quotes so I read a few every day. Great for Instagram post or notes on tweeter.
February 23, 2022
I can write this type of book with in one hour!!!
April 4, 2022
It's exciting to reach out to new favourite writers or influential people by reading their quotes.
August 16, 2022
Easy to read. Great quotes inside. Not really a book in the concept we are used to
December 13, 2022
A few sentences that can make your day feel little more positive and constructive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews