 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
The great incentive to effort, all through life, is experience of success after initial difficulties. The difficulties must not be so great as to cause discouragement, or so small as not to stimulate effort. From birth to death, this is a fundamental principle.
Source: Bertrand Russell: On Education, especially in early childhood, 1926, Pt. 2： Education of character, chap. 3: the first years.
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The phrase "all through life" is crucial. Once people reach stability as adults (or after starting a family), many of them unconsciously stop making much effort to "overcome difficulties." Those who enjoy drinking may have a drink after work and slip into a "thoughtless" state, or at least postpone difficult matters with an attitude of "I'll think about it tomorrow." When the next day comes, they're busy with work and end up repeating the same pattern.
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