Show us the meaning of haste...

[Boromir88]

I think Tolkien sought to show us that we shouldn't be hasty in making decisions, but we should also not procrastinate when action is needed.~Lal

Interesting and obviously Gandalf wasn't sent to Middle-earth to laze around and smoke pipe-weed with Hobbits all the time. The Istari were sent with a mission, and an expectation to complete it. Fast action seems to demand fast reaction.

Also it seems like impatience is another factor here. Compare Faramir who said Boromir was "rash" and "ever anxious" for the Victory of Gondor. It's then no secret he was drawn to the Ring which promised a speedy solution; yet a superficial one. To Faramir who does express the same love and desire for Gondor's victory, but is much more thoughtful and patient. Then we have Denethor who also a "thinker" and "loreman" like Faramir, however it appears he does procrastinate. While he does get Gondor's defenses set up Gandalf remarks that the wall around Pelennor was "late" in being rebuilt, Denethor calls for Rohan's aid and armies from the fiefdoms - late.

It's like you have on one end, someone who acts but doesn't think. The other someone who thinks, but acts late. And in the middle - Faramir - the ideal.

Edit: Oh Lal, and if I recall Aragorn's decision to reveal himself in the palantir was to get Sauron to act hastily and attack Gondor before he wanted to.

Bethberry, that reminds me of Gandalf's words to Aragorn, when Aragorn tried to usurp Theoden's will (in refusing to give up Anduril): "A King will have his way in his own hall." (paraphrasing from The King of the Golden Hall). Then that old, washed up, quack doesn't even hand over his own staff!

[Galadriel55]

There is a difference between acting fast and acting hastily, if you get what I mean.

Reminds me of a line I read elsewhere: "There is the long-short way, and the short-long way."

As for short-cuts... trying on purpose to be hasty? Aragorn's trip to the Paths of the Dead was not hasty in that sense. Trying to make life easier? It means developing new things, which isn't always bad (eg I can't say that rubbing two sticks together is better that having a box of matches with you.)