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But I was too restless to watch long; I'm too Occidental for a long vigil. I could work at a problem for years, but to wait inactive for twenty-four hours - that's another matter.
H. G. Wells
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects a tension between the desire to solve problems and the inability to remain idle over long periods.

In this quote, H. G. Wells expresses a personal struggle between the need for action and the discomfort of waiting passively. He describes himself as 'too restless' to endure long moments of inactivity, suggesting that while he is dedicated to problem-solving, he finds long periods of inactivity mentally challenging. This sentiment highlights a common human dilemma: the balance between patience and the urge to take immediate action.

Themes

RestlessnessPatienceActionProblem-SolvingInactivity

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech about the importance of persistence in problem-solving.

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Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no need of change.
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Things that would have made fame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his hands. It is a mistake to do things too easily.
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The greatest task of democracy, its ritual and feast - is choice.
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I came out for exercise, gentle exercise, and to notice the scenery and to botanise. And no sooner do I get on that accursed machine than off I go hammer and tongs; I never look to right or left, never notice a flower, never see a view - get hot, juicy, red - like a grilled chop. Get me on that machine and I have to go. I go scorching along the road, and cursing aloud at myself for doing it.
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Quote by H. G. Wells | QuoteProject