Laugh and Live by Douglas Fairbanks
page 24 of 111 (21%)
page 24 of 111 (21%)
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competition is keen. We are beginning to realize that these matters are
of vital importance and that we are face to face with a problem. Energy is the natural outpouring of a healthy body. It must be directed, it must be controlled, the same as any other living force. Not only is it a positive necessity to the winner, but it must grow and become _a natural quality_. It does not stand after years of abuse. It does not spring up in the night after a long season of neglect and ill-health. All of us possess it in varying ways. That fact ought to convince us that we can get hold of ourselves and build up that which nature has given us, rather than allow it to die away. We all have a certain amount of energy ... _why shouldn't we all be successes_? We might to a certain extent, but that doesn't mean that we shall all get rich in the money sense of the world. When we say: "Why shouldn't we all be successes?" we do not mean that everybody in the world must be greedy for money, nor for power and position. It does not mean that we should be selfish and eager to take everything away from the other fellow. On the contrary, it means that, with energy, we shall be successful _according to our brain tendency_. Going back to our second chapter we find the phrase "taking stock" of ourselves. Done rightly that alone will inspire success. Now if we are a little farther along on the way towards sane living and the _ability to laugh_ and we know that after this struggle is over the battle is won we must use the powers that self-analysis gives us--_to fight_. The mere recognition of them is power and we must not let them go to waste. Energy is like steam--it cannot be generated under the boiling point. In other words, _half-heartedness_ never produced it nor made it a |
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