The surest way to get a thing in this life is to be prepared for doing without it, to the exclusion even of hope.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Carlyle suggests that preparing to do without a thing increases your chances of getting it.
- In plain terms
- Be ready to live without something to actually get it.
- What can you take from it?
- Detachment from outcomes can paradoxically help achieve goals.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does wanting something hurt your chances?
- How do you balance hope and reality?
Another view
It ignores cases where hope is necessary for sustained effort.
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