Behinds Quote by J. W. N. Sullivan
“If a man in order to shoot a hare, were to discharge thousands of guns on a great moor in all possible directions; if in order to get into a locked room, he were to buy ten thousand casual keys, and try them all; if, in order to have a house, he were to build a town, and leave all the other houses to wind and weather - assuredly no one would call such proceedings purposeful and still less would anyone conjecture behind these proceedings a higher wisdom, unrevealed reasons, and superior prudence.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Philosophy of the Unseen" by J. W. N. Sullivan, 1910
The quote warns that excessive, unfocused effort without clear purpose is futile and cannot be justified as wise.
In simple terms: Too much random effort is useless.
Key Takeaway
Focus on purposeful, efficient actions.
Themes
purpose
efficiency
wisdom
intentionality
parsimony
Mood
thoughtful
critical
analytical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- personal productivity
- project planning
- research design
Key Concepts
strategic planning
goal setting
resource allocation
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- What goals can you achieve with fewer, more targeted actions?
- How do you distinguish necessary effort from needless excess?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on thoroughness can cause analysis paralysis and waste resources.
