"The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense." -- Arnold Bennett

This quote speaks to me of PRACTICE. Of PATIENCE. And of MASTERY. As a culture we are so easily distracted by shallow promises of 'easy routes' and 'overnight success' -- so few of us are prepared to do the work that's involved. We all want instant fame and enlightenment. Just take this pill. Take this course. Read this book. All of that is great/good/useful...and it still take HARD WORK. And that is the reward. Somethings cannot be gained by shortcuts. And only taking shortcuts deprives one of certain learning and development...that is invaluable and inestimable. Until you come up against that short-fall. Then it's too late OR you rise to the ocassion and take on your work! Mastery is or at least has been undervalued culturally. But I do sense shifts or even transformations in the zeitgeist or collective cultural story. Maybe...