A rowboat, without oars. An outboard motor. As you can sit…
““A rowboat, without oars. An outboard motor. As you can sit there for years, forever, with that outboard motor, pulling again, and yet again, that rope, or cord, or wire, or whatever it is, and winding yet again, and each time, every single time, the motor, though it may give a cough or two, will fail to start, though if it starts, and when it starts, you are, at whatever speed you choose, within the engine's limits and the hazards of the course, well on your way, until it starts you are no nearer where you were going on the fifteenth try than on the first; the enterprise may last forever, and never yet quite begin. The fact seems to be, however, that unless some apparently unrelated event should intervene -- a bullet, a heart attack, a cry from shore that dinner's ready, or company has come, or junior's run away -- the engine will eventually start. In the meantime, though, while you have been intensely busy, it is difficult to account for how the time is spent.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She describes endless effort without progress, likening it to a faulty motor that eventually starts after many attempts
In simple terms: Persistent effort may feel futile but eventually yields results
Key Takeaway
Persevere despite repeated setbacks
Themes
perseverance
effort
patience
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- project management
- learning new skills
- long‑term goals
- creative work
Key Concepts
existentialism
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- What keeps you motivated during long failures?
- When is it wise to abandon a futile effort?
A Different Perspective
Success may be delayed, not guaranteed