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Literary
May 9, 1840
The Phenix
Bristol, Bristol County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Reflective prose quoting Dr. Johnson and Locke on overcoming daunting tasks through incremental steps, using metaphors of mountains, oceans, sands, and erosion by drops.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Try.—"Let a man sit down at the foot of a great mountain," says Dr. Johnson, "to contemplate its greatness, and he will be ready to say, I can never go over it; the attempt is futile. Yet, on the second thought he concludes the task can be performed, not by one mighty leap, but by successive steps and by the simple process of putting one foot before the other."
Again: "The chief art," says Locke, "is to attempt but little at a time. The widest excursions of the mind are made by short flights frequently repeated. The most lofty fabrics are formed by the accumulation of simple propositions.
Drops of water constitute an ocean. Sands make a mountain, and the rocks are not worn away by a sudden force, but by continual droppings.
Again: "The chief art," says Locke, "is to attempt but little at a time. The widest excursions of the mind are made by short flights frequently repeated. The most lofty fabrics are formed by the accumulation of simple propositions.
Drops of water constitute an ocean. Sands make a mountain, and the rocks are not worn away by a sudden force, but by continual droppings.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Perseverance
Incremental Progress
Dr Johnson
Locke
Metaphors
Literary Details
Key Lines
"Let A Man Sit Down At The Foot Of A Great Mountain," Says Dr. Johnson, "To Contemplate Its Greatness, And He Will Be Ready To Say, I Can Never Go Over It; The Attempt Is Futile. Yet, On The Second Thought He Concludes The Task Can Be Performed, Not By One Mighty Leap, But By Successive Steps And By The Simple Process Of Putting One Foot Before The Other."
"The Chief Art," Says Locke, "Is To Attempt But Little At A Time. The Widest Excursions Of The Mind Are Made By Short Flights Frequently Repeated. The Most Lofty Fabrics Are Formed By The Accumulation Of Simple Propositions.
Drops Of Water Constitute An Ocean. Sands Make A Mountain, And The Rocks Are Not Worn Away By A Sudden Force, But By Continual Droppings.