Men are generally idle, and ready to satisfy themselves, and intimidate the industry of others, by calling that impossible which is only difficult.
Interpretation
The quote highlights how people often dismiss challenges as impossible when they are simply difficult, reflecting a tendency towards laziness and discouragement.
Samuel Johnson's quote points to a common human behavior where individuals may resist effort and hard work by labeling challenging tasks as impossible. This mindset not only allows them to avoid personal responsibility but also discourages others from pursuing their ambitions. Instead of confronting difficulties, these individuals prefer to belittle the efforts of others, contributing to a culture of idleness and negativity. The quote serves as a reminder that many things may seem impossible at first, but with determination and effort, they can be achieved.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming challenges.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security... Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not.
The Word of fire burns today On the lips of our prophets in an evil age.
A famously wise old man in a village was once asked how he came by his wisdom. "I got it from my good judgment," he answered. And where did his good judgment come from? "I got it from my bad judgment."
Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.
When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you.
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