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When I Was Czar
When I Was Czar

Chapter XI · Conviction at Last

Cover illustration for When I Was Czar
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.
My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.
Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.
And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.
The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

When I Was Czar

Chapter XI · Conviction at Last

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.
Line 2
My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.
Line 3
Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.
Line 4
And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.
Line 5
The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.”

Repugnance noun US /rɪˈpʌɡnəns/

strong disgust or dislike showing strong disgust or dislike toward something

From this reading “The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.”

All words in this reading · 77

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

act

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

afterwards

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

also

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.

careful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

crisis

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

crowded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

dangerous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

decision

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

deliberation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

due

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

Events

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

eyes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

fellow-creature's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

few

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

flashes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

instinct

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

intense

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.

lay

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

less

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

minutes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

moment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

naturally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

necessary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

often

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.

policy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

quickly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

regret

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

regretted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

repugnancenounUS /rɪˈpʌɡnəns/

strong disgust or dislike showing strong disgust or dislike toward something

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.

shot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

times

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading My instinct in such times is to act first and think afterwards.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Events had so crowded the few minutes that I had not had time to think, except in those flashes of decision necessary in a crisis.

too

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And I have often found that the wrong thing done quickly may be less dangerous than the right thing done after a too careful deliberation.

Vastic

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The moment the man Vastic lay dead before my eyes, I regretted having shot him: a regret due not only to a naturally intense repugnance to take a fellow-creature’s life, but also to reasons of policy.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.

wrong

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Do something, whether right or wrong; but do it.