The take-home message is that when you have to make a decision, the first step should be to get all the information necessary for the decision. Once you have the information, you have to decide, and this is best done with conscious thought for simple decisions, but left to unconscious thought -- to 'sleep on it' -- when the decision is complex.

Ap Dijksterhuis

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It feels like it's the completely wrong way to make such an important decision. It turns out that in some circumstances it's far from sub-optimal. It's the best thing you can do.

— Ap Dijksterhuis

Contrary to conventional wisdom, it is not always advantageous to engage in thorough conscious deliberation before choosing.

— Ap Dijksterhuis

Your brain is capable of juggling lots of facts and possibilities at the same time when you let it work without specifically thinking about the decision. But when you are specifically thinking about a problem, your brain isn't able to weigh up as much information. I sit on things and rely on my gut.

— Ap Dijksterhuis

It is much better to follow your gut.

— Ap Dijksterhuis

The decision to leave the pageant's longtime home in Atlantic City was made after extremely careful deliberation and with the highest level of respect for the countless friends, volunteers and fans of the pageant.

— Art McMaster