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About this quote

What does it mean?
Huxley states his goal is to align his wishes with reality rather than扭曲 reality to fit his wishes.
In plain terms
I adjust my hopes to match reality, not reality to match my hopes.
What can you take from it?
Adapt your expectations to the world, not the other way around.

Where it applies

  • scientific inquiry
  • personal planning
  • problem solving

Putting it to work

  • base plans on facts
  • challenge assumptions

Questions to consider

  • How do you balance hope and fact?
  • When is it better to change facts?

Another view

Strict adherence to facts may limit visionary thinking or ambition.

More from Thomas Henry Huxley

  1. Science seems to me to teach in the highest and strongest manner the great truth which is embodied in the Christian conception of entire surrender to the will …

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  2. I am too much of a sceptic to deny the possibility of anything... but I don't see my way to your conclusion.

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  3. My convictions, positive and negative, on all the matters of which you speak, are of long and slow growth and are firmly rooted. But the great blow which fell …

    Permalink to quote #37

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