The successful man valiantly faces the present circumstances, the obstacle to be conquered, the trait in himself that must be overcome. Evasiveness is not mere weakness and procrastination, it is playing with the inevitable. He who succeeds acknowledges where he stands, knows what he can do in the light of what he has done, what is not in his power now, but also knows that he cannot afford to fail in the present undertaking. He does not assert his power in general, or try to conquer many things at once, but opens wide the gates of power in the direction in which he should succeed to-day. Thus the energy that might be checked if he dwelt on what he could not do is concentrated upon the opportunity of the hour.

The first essential is to set oneself in motion in a given direction. We have seen how this principle works in the case of the habit of swimming or skating, acquired long after the initial efforts were made; also in the case of the good resolution which is confidently made and as confidently dismissed to do its work. Once in motion in such a way that the beginnings of a habit are established, we tend to keep in motion unless impeded by stronger influences. Hence it is as necessary to know the possible inhibitions of our unregeneracy as to make wise effort at the right time. But it is no less important to know when to stop. As Carpenter