"If you do not wish a man to do a thing, you had better get him to talk about it; for the more men talk, the more likely they are to do nothing else"

This quote by Thomas Carlyle recommends that talking can be a method to prevent somebody from doing something about it. It implies that when individuals speak about something, they are less most likely to take any action. This might be due to the fact that speaking about something can be a way to hesitate and prevent actually doing it. It might likewise be because discussing something can make it appear lesser or urgent, and for that reason less likely to be acted upon. This quote might be analyzed as a warning to be mindful about what we speak about, as it can have an impact on our ability to act. It might also be viewed as a reminder to do something about it when we require to, rather than simply speaking about it.