September 20

All good things are achieved only through effort.

1

If there are people who do not study, or who, if they do study, have little success in it, then let these people not despair and stop; if there are people who do not ask those who are enlightened about the things they have doubts about and the things they do not know, or who, if they do ask, do not thereby become enlightened—let them not despair; if there are people who do not contemplate, or who, even if they do contemplate, cannot gain a clear understanding of the meaning of life—let them not despair; if there are people who cannot distinguish good from evil, or who, even if can make the distinction, do not see the distinction clearly—let them not despair; if there are people who do not do good, or who, even if they do it, do not give it their all—let them not despair; that which the others have achieved in one attempt, they will achieve in ten. That which the others have achieved in a hundred attempts, they will achieve in a thousand.

No matter how ignorant you may be, if you truly follow this rule of consistency, you are certain to become enlightened, and no matter how weak you may be, you are certain to grow strong.

— Chinese wisdom

2

Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. Because the gate is narrow and the way is restricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

— Matthew 7:13–14

3

Bad deeds are easily done—deeds that bring us unhappiness; but that which is beneficial and good for us is achieved only through work and effort.

— The Dhammapada

4

The path to good knowledge never lies over silky meadows strewn with lilies; a human being must always scale naked cliffs.

— John Ruskin

5

The search for truth is not done joyfully, but with worry and unease; nevertheless, you must search for it, for unless you find the truth and love it, you will perish. But, you might say, if truth wanted me to find it and love it, then it would reveal itself to me. But it does reveal itself to you, you are just not paying attention. So seek the truth—that is what it wants.

— Pascal

6

Only by always keeping it in mind can one lead a good life.

A person who is not working would cry out from pain if he were to feel in his muscles the very same pain he experiences without noticing while he works. Likewise, a person who does not work on his inner world experiences agonizing pain from the same adversities that someone who considers moral self-perfection to be the main task of life endures without noticing.