Line by Line - Verse 33, Line 6

he who goes on acting with energy has a (firm) will.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Perseverance is a sign of willpower.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Those who proceed vigorously have willpower
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

If you never give up,
you will find a way.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

We live in a society that promotes the idea of instant gratification. If you see something you want, grab it! If there is somewhere else you'd rather be, run there. If you want to claim the top of the mountain, you must beat down all comers now.

When our immediate desires are thwarted by others or circumstances, many of us will throw a temper tantrum. We want what we want and we don't wanna wait. Right now -- this very second -- is all that matters.

While it may sound trite, good things come to those who wait. By keeping the mind clear, we can see our way around obstacles that the petulant person misses. By persevering, we stand a much better chance of smelling the roses along the way toward our goals.

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.