When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.
E. W. HoweRead
Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.
Interpretation
People often create imaginary challenges in their minds that prevent them from taking action.
This quote by E. W. Howe suggests that many individuals spend their lives struggling against perceived obstacles that are not real, rather than confronting the actual challenges they face. It highlights the tendency of people to become so consumed by their fears and doubts that they fail to see the path forward, ultimately leading to frustration and regret over wasted potential.
In practice
During a motivational speech to encourage people to embrace their true potential.
When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.
A man must thank his defects, and stand in some terror of his talents.
Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.
When I start on a book, I have been thinking about it and making occasional notes for some time... So I have lots of theme, locale, subjects and technical ideas... I don't worry about long periods of not doing anything. I know my subconscious is busy.
Certain brief sentences are peerless in their ability to give one the feeling that nothing remains to be said.
After a time," said old Mathers disregarding me, "I mercifully perceived the errors of my ways and the unhappy destination I would reach unless I mended them. I retired from the world in order to try to comprehend it and to find out why it becomes more unsavoury as the years accumulate on a man's body. What do you think I discovered at the end of my meditations?" I felt pleased again. He was now questioning me. "What?" "That No is a better word than Yes," he replied.
'Think simple' as my old master used to say - meaning reduce the whole of its parts into the simplest terms, getting back to first principles.
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