minutes with the entire consciousness of wasting them.

The last, and chiefest danger which I would indicate, is one to which I
have already referred--the risk of a failure at the commencement of the
enterprise.

I must insist on it.

A failure at the commencement may easily kill outright the newborn
impulse towards a complete vitality, and therefore every precaution
should be observed to avoid it.  The impulse must not be over-taxed.
Let the pace of the first lap be even absurdly slow, but let it be as
regular as possible.

And, having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs
of tedium and distaste.  The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished
a tiresome labour is immense.

Finally, in choosing the first occupations of those evening hours, be guided
by nothing whatever but your taste and natural inclination.

It is a fine thing to be a walking encyclopaedia of philosophy, but if you
happen to have no liking for philosophy, and to have a like for the natural
history of street-cries, much better leave philosophy alone, and take to
street-cries.





End of Project Gutenberg Etext How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, by Bennett

