--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is by attempting to reach the top in a…" description: "\"It is by attempting to reach the top in a single leap that so much misery is produced in the world.\" — William Cobbett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/william-cobbett-8980_attempting_it-is-by-attempting-to-reach-the-top-in_476283.png" --- # It is by attempting to reach the top in a single leap that… ![“It is by attempting to reach the top in a single leap that so much misery is produced in the world.” quote by William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/william-cobbett-8980_attempting_it-is-by-attempting-to-reach-the-top-in_476283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/william-cobbett-8980_attempting_it-is-by-attempting-to-reach-the-top-in_476283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ca/william-cobbett-8980_attempting_it-is-by-attempting-to-reach-the-top-in_476283.png) > “It is by attempting to reach the top in a single leap that so much misery is produced in the world.” [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting sudden, massive leaps leads to widespread suffering. **In simple terms:** Quick, extreme ambitions cause misery. Key Takeaway Pursue steady, realistic progress. Themes ambition consequences moderation Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical pragmatic When to use this quote - business ventures - political reforms - personal goals Key Concepts risk social impact growth Questions to Reflect On - What incremental steps can replace the leap? - How do you measure sustainable progress? A Different Perspective Rapid change can destabilize systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leap/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It is by attempting to reach the top at a single leap that so much misery is caused in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/it-is-by-attempting-to-reach-the-top-at-a-single-leap-that-so-much/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [It is by attempting to reach the top in a single leap that so much misery is caused in the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/it-is-by-attempting-to-reach-the-top-in-a-single-leap-that-so-much-2/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [Patience is the most necessary quality for business, many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request. 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It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by William Cobbett > [If the people of Sheffield could only receive a tenth part of what their knives sell for by retail in America, Sheffield might pave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/if-the-people-of-sheffield-could-only-receive-a-tenth-part-of-what/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [WESTBURY, a nasty odious rotten-borough, a really rotten place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/westbury-a-nasty-odious-rotten-borough-a-really-rotten-place/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [It is not the greatness of a man's means that makes him independent, so much as the smallness of his wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/it-is-not-the-greatness-of-a-man-s-means-that-makes-him-independent/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [There never yet was, and never will be, a nation permanently great, consisting, for the greater part, of wretched and miserable families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/there-never-yet-was-and-never-will-be-a-nation-permanently-great/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [Protestations of impartiality I shall make none. 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