o ó the second thoughts are invariably wiser. 1577 Chronicles 438 Oftentymes it chaunceth, that latter thoughts are better aduised than the first. 1581 tr. S. Guazzo's Civil Conversation i. 23 V I finde verified that Prouerbe, That the second thoughts are euer the best. 1681 Spanish Friar II . 22 Second thoughts, they say, are best: I'll consider of it once again. 1813 Letter 11 Dec. (1974) III. 196 In composition I do not think second thoughts are best, though second expressions may improve the first ideas. 1908 Beau Brummel I . i. Second thoughts seem to be always the best. 1981 Xanadu Talisman v. That was my first thought … But second thoughts are always best. prudence