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powers cannot cope with it； we feel that we should be less discontented if
we gave to our powers； already overtaxed； something still further to do。
And such is； indeed； the fact。 The wish to accomplish something
outside their formal programme is common to all men who in the course
of evolution have risen past a certain level。
Until an effort is made to satisfy that wish； the sense of uneasy waiting
for something to start which has not started will remain to disturb the
peace of the soul。 That wish has been called by many names。 It is one
form of the universal desire for knowledge。 And it is so strong that men
whose whole lives have been given to the systematic acquirement of
knowledge have been driven by it to overstep the limits of their
programme in search of still more knowledge。 Even Herbert Spencer； in
my opinion the greatest mind that ever lived； was often forced by it into
agreeable little backwaters of inquiry。
I imagine that in the majority of people who are conscious of the wish
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
to livethat is to say； people who have intellectual curiositythe aspiration
to exceed formal programmes takes a literary shape。 They would like to
embark on a course of reading。 Decidedly the British people are becoming
more and more literary。 But I would point out that literature by no means
comprises the whole field of knowledge； and that the disturbing thirst to
improve one's selfto increase one's knowledgemay well be slaked quite
apart from literature。 With the various ways of slaking I shall deal later。
Here I merely point out to those who have no natural sympathy with
literature that literature is not the only well。
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
III PRECAUTIONS BEFORE
BEGINNING
Now that I have succeeded （if succeeded I have） in persuading you to
admit to yourself that you are constantly haunted by a suppressed
dissatisfaction with your own arrangement of your daily life； and that the
primal cause of that inconvenient dissatisfaction is the feeling that you are
every day leaving undone something which you would like to do； and
which； indeed； you are always hoping to do when you have 〃more time〃；
and now that I have drawn your attention to the glaring； dazzling truth that
you never will have 〃more time；〃 since you already have all the time there
isyou expect me to let you into some wonderful secret by which you may
at any rate approach the ideal of a perfect arrangement of the day； and by
which； therefore； that haunting； unpleasant； daily disappointment of things
left undone will be got rid of！
I have found no such wonderful secret。 Nor do I expect to find it； nor
do I expect that anyone else will ever find it。 It is undiscovered。 When you
first began to gather my drift； perhaps there was a resurrection of hope in
your breast。 Perhaps you said to yourself； 〃This man will show me an easy；
unfatiguing way of doing what I have so long in vain wished to do。〃 Alas；
no！ The fact is that there is no easy way； no royal road。 The path to Mecca
is extremely hard and stony； and the worst of it is that you never quite get
there after all。
The most important preliminary to the task of arranging one's life so
that one may live fully and comfortably within one's daily budget of
twenty… four hours is the calm realisation of the extreme difficulty of the
task； of the sacrifices and the endless effort which it demands。 I cannot too
strongly insist on this。
If you imagine that you will be able to achieve your ideal by
ingeniously planning out a time…table with a pen on a piece of paper； you
had better give up hope at once。 If you are not prepared for
discouragements and disillusions； if you will not be content with a small
result for a big effort； then do not begin。 Lie down again and resume the
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How to Live on Twenty…Four Hours a Day
uneasy doze which you call your existence。
It is very sad； is it not； very depressing and sombre？ And yet I think it
is rather fine； too； this necessity for the tense bracing of the will before
anything worth doing can be done。 I rather like it myself。 I feel it to be the
chief thing that differentiates me from the cat by the fire。
〃Well；〃 you say； 〃assume that I am braced for the battle。 Assume that I
have carefully weighed and comprehended your ponderous remarks； how
do I begin？〃 Dear sir； you simply begin。 There is no magic method of
beginning。 If a man standing on the edge of a swimming…bath and wanting
to jump into the cold water should ask you； 〃How do I begin to jump？〃
you would merely reply； 〃Just jump。 Take hold of your nerves； and jump。〃
As I have previously said； the chief beauty about the constant supply
of time is that you cannot waste it in advance。 The next year； the next day；
the next hour are lying ready for you； as perfect； as unspoilt； as if you had
never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your career。 Which fact
is very gratifying and reassuring。 You can turn over a new leaf every hour
if you choose。 Therefore no object is served in waiting till next week； or
even until to…morrow。 You may fancy that the water will be warmer next
week。 It won't。 It will be colder。
But before you begin； let me murmur a few words of warning in your
private ear。
Let me principally warn you against your own ardour。 Ardour in
well…doing is a misleading and a treacherous thing。 It cries out loudly for
employment； you can't satisfy it at first； it wants more and more； it is
eager to move mountains and divert the course of rivers。 It isn't content till
it perspires。 And then； too often； when it feels the perspiration on its brow；
it wearies all of a sudden and dies； without even putting itself to the
trouble of saying； 〃I've had enough of this。〃
Beware of undertaking too much at the start。 Be content with quite a
little。 Allow for accidents。 Allow for human nature； especially your own。
A failure or so； in itself； would not matter； if it did not incur a loss of
self… esteem and of self…confidence。 But just as nothing succeeds like
success； so nothing fails like failure。 Most people