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Defer Quotes

On yielding, waiting, and trusting others.

This page gathers quotes on when and why people defer, from the diplomatic case that 'the better part of wisdom is to defer dangers' to a personal admission of deferring 'back to black' when colors feel overwhelming.

Sometimes in international politics, the better part of wisdom is to defer dangers rather than try to eliminate them altogether instantly.

Quotes by Zbigniew Brzezinski

Human nature is such that people are born with a love of profit If they follow these inclinations, they will struggle and snatch from each other, and inclinations to defer or yield will die.

Quotes by Xun Kuang

I don't wear a lot of color because I live in New York, and I'm sort of color-blind, so colors don't match to me a lot of the times, and it makes me anxious. So I'll always defer back to...

Quotes by Verite

From the Left comes the proposition that, given the slow economy, we should defer attending to the problem of mounting obligations - and the truly delusional idea that growing federal debt doesn't matter because we owe most of it to...

Quotes by Steven Rattner

Able Quotes

I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I...

Quotes by Stephen Grellet

I feel I should defer to the writers and the directors because they're the ones who have the complete vision. They see things through from the beginning to the end. I'm responsible for one small part, so my scope is...

Quotes by Shoshannah Stern

Something happens in school sometimes where you're like, 'Oh, I'm not an expert, and I have to defer to people who are.' And it happens not just in school: it happens in religion, too. Defer to the experts. A printing...

Quotes by Sal Khan

To defer to someone else's definition of a life well-lived is a Faustian bargain.

Quotes by Rachel Simmons

Does it follow that I reject all authority? Perish the thought. In the matter of boots, I defer to the authority of the boot-maker.

Quotes by Mikhail Bakunin

Experience Quotes

I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.

Quotes by Mia Hamm

People in Hollywood defer to what they know, which is a white lead, particularly in romantic comedies.

Quotes by Lana Condor

If you're talking about nuclear physics, I have to defer to the next guy. But if you're talking about football, I don't have to take a back seat to anyone.

Quotes by Joe Greene

Blocking a shot can really demoralize a person and defer them from coming to the rim the rest of the game. So being able to do that and change the landscape of the game by one play is pretty amazing.

Quotes by JaVale McGee

To be a good father and mother requires that the parents defer many of their own needs and desires in favor of the needs of their children. As a consequence of this sacrifice, conscientious parents develop a nobility of character...

Quotes by James E. Faust

Good Quotes

In the Philippines, the host should always be willing to defer to the wishes of the guest.

Quotes by Ferdinand Marcos

Some critics of my work took the view that a satirist should defer to the finer feelings of his readers and respect widely held beliefs.

Quotes by David Low

When you pretend to be an authority on everything, it forces your subordinates to defer to your opinion - which may not be the most informed in the room. If you have humility concerning the gaps in your experience or...

Quotes by Courtney A. Kemp

Now, President Obama has to make a decision. He can either propose a nominee who can win over the majority in the Senate or defer his choice to the voters, who in November will elect a new President and a...

Quotes by Cory Gardner

I think our election proved to us that 'billionaire' is an incredibly magical word in our language in that people just defer to it. Donald Trump is not a billionaire, but he knew it was vital for him to be...

Quotes by Chris Sacca

Like Quotes

I defer to all these other American poets who, for some reason, I both envy and admire.

Quotes by Charles Olson

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this Defer quotes collection about?
This page collects quotes about deferring - postponing decisions, yielding to authority, or trusting someone else's expertise. The lines span politics, personal habits, and everyday judgment calls.
Why do people search for quotes about deferring to others?
Deference comes up often in discussions of leadership, humility, and decision-making, so people look for quotes on the topic when writing about trust, expertise, or diplomacy.
How do these quotes describe deferring in international politics?
One quote argues that in international politics, the better part of wisdom is sometimes to defer dangers rather than try to eliminate them all at once, favoring patience over immediate confrontation.
Do any of these quotes describe deferring to an expert?
Yes, one quote states that while the speaker doesn't reject all authority, in the matter of boots, they defer to the authority of the boot-maker - a lighthearted example of trusting specialized knowledge, related to Experience quotes.
Is deferring always framed positively in this collection?
Not entirely. One quote observes that when people follow inclinations toward profit alone, tendencies to defer or yield can die out, suggesting that deference can also erode under the wrong conditions.

Others defer to expertise outright, like trusting a boot-maker's authority on boots. See also Experience and Good quotes.