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This grieved me heartily ; and now I saw, though too late…

“This grieved me heartily ; and now I saw, though too late, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it.” quote by Daniel Defoe
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“This grieved me heartily ; and now I saw, though too late, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it.”

Daniel Defoe

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Recognizing personal limits before starting a project prevents costly failure.

In simple terms: Know your capacity before beginning.

Key Takeaway

Assess resources and abilities first.

Themes

planning self-awareness risk

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • business ventures
  • personal goals
  • team projects
  • adventure planning

Key Concepts

humanism self-reflection

Questions to Reflect On

  • What resources do you truly have?
  • How can you measure your limits accurately?
A Different Perspective

Overconfidence can still lead to misjudgment despite caution.

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