The great difference between those who succeed and those who fail does not consist in the amount of work done by each but in the amount of intelligent work. Many of those who fail most ignominiously do enough to achieve grand success but they labor haphazardly at whatever they are assigned, building up with one hand to tear down with the other. They do not grasp circumstances and change them into opportunities. They have no faculty for turning honest defeats into telling victories. With ability enough and ample time, the major ingredients of success, they are forever throwing back and forth an empty shuttle and the real web of their life is never woven.

Summary

This quote highlights the importance of intelligent work and strategic thinking in achieving success. It suggests that the quantity of work alone is not enough to succeed; rather, it is the quality and thoughtfulness behind the work that truly matters. Many individuals who fail may actually put in a sufficient amount of effort, but they lack the ability to work intelligently and effectively. They may unintentionally sabotage their own progress or fail to recognize and seize opportunities. Even with skills and time on their side, without the ability to adapt and transform setbacks into triumphs, their efforts will be in vain, and they will never truly achieve their desired success.

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