My wife determined that my genius should prevail, and that my final success as an ornithologist should be triumphant.
John James AudubonRead
But Hopes are Shy Birds flying at a great distance seldom reached by the best of Guns.
Interpretation
Hopes are delicate and often difficult to achieve, much like elusive birds that are hard to catch.
This quote by John James Audubon emphasizes the fragile and elusive nature of hopes and dreams. Like shy birds that fly far away, our aspirations may often feel out of reach despite our best efforts, suggesting that achieving our goals requires patience and respect for their inherent fragility.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about overcoming obstacles.
My wife determined that my genius should prevail, and that my final success as an ornithologist should be triumphant.
The best recommendation I can have is my own talents, and the fruits of my own labors, and what others will not do for me, I will try and do for myself.
As I grew up I was fervently desirous of becoming acquainted with Nature.
Ah! How often when I have been abroad on the mountains has my heart risen in grateful praise to God that it was not my destiny to waste and pine among those noisome congregations of the city.
One day I caught four Dolphins, how much I have gazed at these beautiful creatures... as they changed their hue in twenty varieties of richest arrangement of tints.
Surrounded by all the members of my dear family, enjoying the affection of numerous friends, who have never abandoned me, and possessing a sufficient share of all that contributes to make life agreeable, I lift my grateful eyes towards the Supreme Being and feel that I am happy.
All good is born in prayer, and all good springs from it.
It seems that the necessary thing to do is not to fear mistakes, to plunge in, to do the best that one can, hoping to learn enough from blunders to correct them eventually.
In many cases, if we knew what it would take, we might have thought twice about it, so it's often wonderful that we don't have hindsight.
I expect you have seen someone put a a lighted match to a bit of newspaper which is propped up in a grate against an unlit fire. And for a second nothing seems to have happened; and then you notice a tiny steak of flame creeping along the edged of the newspaper. It was like that now.
In his commerce with men I mean him to include- and that principally- those who live only in the memory of books. By means of history he will frequent those great souls of former years. If you want it to be so, history can be a waste of time; it can also be, if you want it to be so, a study bearing fruit beyond price.
I know that my books are worthy, which is separate from me.
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