Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a burden.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Tom feels overwhelmed by a large fence, leading to melancholy and a sense that life is burdensome.
- In plain terms
- A daunting task can cause despair.
- What can you take from it?
- Break big problems into manageable parts.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a task feel overwhelming?
- How can we reframe burdens?
Another view
Even small progress can feel insignificant without perspective.
More from Samuel Langhorne Clemens
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