haste

Haste is the state or act of moving or acting with excessive speed or urgency, typically without adequate consideration of the consequences. It can describe physical movement, rapid decision-making, or a combination of both. In everyday language, haste often carries a negative connotation, implying impulsivity or carelessness.

Etymology: The noun haste derives from Old English hæste, related to other Germanic words for speed. The adjective hasty shares the same root. Over time, the term has retained the sense of urgency while expanding to various contexts.

Proverbial and cultural usage: The saying haste makes waste cautions that rushing can produce mistakes and inefficiency. The Latin phrase festina lente, meaning "make haste slowly," appears in classical and later contexts as a balance between speed and deliberation.

Psychology and practice: Time pressure produces a speed-accuracy trade-off: actions are performed more quickly but with higher error rates, particularly in complex tasks. In emergencies, haste can help prevent harm, but it also increases the chance of overlooking critical steps. Training, routines, and checklists can reduce the adverse effects of haste by promoting automaticity and reducing cognitive load.

In culture and safety: Haste features in literature, religion, and daily life as both a warning and a practical consideration. In safety-critical domains, processes aim to minimize unnecessary haste while ensuring timely and careful action.