Whatever else we are intended to do, we are not intended to succeed; failure is the fate allotted.
Meaning
Stevenson wrote this in "A Christmas Sermon" as a deliberately sobering reminder that perfect success is not guaranteed. His point is that dignity lies in continuing to try anyway. Use it to ease pressure: aim for steady effort on one task today rather than flawless results.
Source: Across the Plains, "A Christmas Sermon" (1892)
About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist and poet, best known for Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
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