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About this quote

What does it mean?
Judge progress by your efforts and intentions, not just immediate results.
In plain terms
Look at what you plant, not just what you harvest.
What can you take from it?
Focus on your actions, not just the results.

Where it applies

  • project planning
  • parenting
  • skill building

Putting it to work

  • measuring effort
  • long-term planning

Questions to consider

  • What are you planting?
  • Do you value effort?

Another view

Results still matter for practical survival.

More from Robert Louis Stevenson

  1. The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.…

    Permalink to quote #74
  2. The duty of a Christian is not to succeed, but to fail cheerfully.

    Permalink to quote #76
  3. Here lies one who meant well, tried a little, failed much: - surely that may be his epitaph of which he need not be ashamed.

    Permalink to quote #73

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