Alertness Quote by William Faulkner
““that alertness for measuring and weighing event against eventuality, circumstance against human nature, his own fallible judgement and mortal clay against not only human but natural forces, choosing and discarding, compromising with his dream and his ambition like you must with the horse which you take across country, over timber, which you control only through your ability to keep the animal from realizing that actually you cannot, that actually it is the stronger.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Light in August by William Faulkner, 1932
The passage reflects on human effort to measure and control destiny, balancing ambition with the limits of nature and self.
In simple terms: We try to control fate but are limited by nature and our own flaws.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits and adapt ambitions responsibly.
Themes
ambition
control
human limits
nature
self-awareness
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- leadership
- creative projects
- adventure planning
Key Concepts
existentialism
determinism
human frailty
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance ambition with realistic constraints?
- What forces in your life are stronger than you realize?
A Different Perspective
Balancing ambition with reality can stifle innovation if overly cautious.
