The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret.

Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821–1881), a Swiss moral philosopher and literary critic from Geneva, is best known for his posthumously published Journal intime (Intimate Journal), a long, self-scrutinizing diary marked by hesitation, self-doubt, and philosophical reflection. The sentiment in this quotation aligns closely with Amiel’s recurring concern that excessive analysis and the demand for certainty can paralyze action. In the Journal he repeatedly weighs choices—ethical, vocational, emotional—only to note how the desire for “perfect clearness” postpones commitment. The second sentence reflects his sober view that to live fully is to choose, and that choosing inevitably entails loss and therefore regret.

Amiel links indecision to an impossible standard: waiting for complete clarity before acting. Because life rarely offers certainty, insisting on it becomes a strategy for avoiding responsibility and risk—resulting in a life of perpetual postponement. The second line deepens the point: action is inseparable from regret because every decision forecloses alternatives, and even good choices carry costs. The quote therefore argues for a mature acceptance of human limits: one must act under partial knowledge, tolerate ambiguity, and recognize regret not as failure but as the ordinary shadow cast by commitment. It is a critique of perfectionism and an endorsement of courageous, imperfect agency.