[rch]

I prefer the less verbose version:

"Don't just do something. Stand there."

--Marvin Minsky

[coldtea]

Damn, I knew this quote for 2+ decades, and I thought it was just a funny wordplay, reversing the usual wording.

Only now with your comment it occurred to me it has the same sense with the Chesterton quote, that it's against "just doing something" mindlessly!

[jarcane]

http://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/03/22/stand-there/

[rch]

Thanks! I've wondered about that from time to time.

Here's a link to Minsky's Law (actually two):

https://edge.org/response-detail/11644

If I recall correctly, it's also mentioned in The Society of Mind.