Bernard and opening the book;
in other words, to waste five 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.
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