It is hard work to control the workings of inclination and…
““It is hard work to control the workings of inclination and turn the bent of nature; but that it may be done, I know from experience. God has given us, in a measure, the power to make our own fate: and when our energies seem to demand a sustenance they cannot get--when our will strains after a path we may not follow--we need neither starve from inanition, not stand still in despair: we have but to seek another nourishment for the mind, as strong as the forbidden fruit it longed to taste--and perhaps purer; and to hew out for the adventurous foot a road as direct and broad as the one Fortune has blocked up against us, if rougher than it.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human will can reshape destiny, but must find alternative mental nourishment when conventional paths fail.
In simple terms: Will can change fate, seek new mental sustenance.
Key Takeaway
Find new inner resources when blocked.
Themes
willpower
destiny
self‑discipline
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career setbacks
- creative blocks
- personal crises
- spiritual doubt
Key Concepts
self‑determination
inner growth
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner resource can you cultivate now?
- How do you recognize when a path is blocked?
A Different Perspective
Alternative mental nourishment may be hard to identify or sustain.