Lemony Snicket's quote about Preparation

“If we wait until we're ready, we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives.”

—Lemony Snicket, 

The Ersatz Elevator 

(A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6)

The Ersatz Elevator is the sixth novel of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaires are sent to live with the wealthy Esmé and Jerome Squalor.

Are you ready?" Klaus asked finally.

"No," Sunny answered.

"Me neither," Violet said, "but if we wait until we're ready we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives, Let's go.

The quote "If I wait until I'm ready, I'll have to wait my whole life" is a variation of a famous line by Lemony Snicket from The Ersatz Elevator (Book 6 of A Series of Unfortunate Events), where it is stated as, "If we wait until we're ready, we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives". The saying conveys the idea that perfect readiness is often an illusion, and that waiting indefinitely for an ideal moment to act can lead to never starting at all. It encourages taking action even when one doesn't feel completely prepared.

Context and Meaning

The Courage to Start:
The quote appears in the context of characters, like the Baudelaire children, who are hesitant to face danger or undertake a task.
Perpetual Delay:
The core message is that waiting for absolute certainty or comfort is a form of procrastination that can prevent significant goals from ever being achieved.
Finding the "Just Right" Moment:
While it advises against waiting too long, it doesn't advocate for reckless action. Instead, it suggests that there's a broad window of opportunity, and the challenge lies in recognizing when you've moved past the "too soon" phase and have sufficient prospects to act courageously.
Key Takeaway
The quote serves as an impetus to take action, recognizing that the fear of not being ready is a common obstacle, and that the perfect moment for action may never arrive.