We shall succeed only so far as we continue to undertake…
“We shall succeed only so far as we continue to undertake “the intolerable labor of thought” — that most distasteful of all our activities.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Thought work is a demanding, often unpleasant labor that limits progress if avoided.
In simple terms: Intellectual effort is hard but necessary.
Persist with difficult thinking.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research
- problem solving
- writing
- policy making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What “intolerable” thoughts have you avoided?
- How can you make difficult thinking more sustainable?
Not all thoughts are equally valuable; some may lead to dead ends.