Quote by William H. Murray, The Scottish

But when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money--booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!

Summary

This quote by William Hutchison Murray emphasizes the importance of commitment and taking action. The author admits to initially thinking that nothing had been achieved, but realizes that the mere act of committing oneself to a goal is a significant step forward. Commitment eliminates hesitancy and the option to retreat, leading to greater effectiveness. The quote highlights the crucial truth that once one is fully committed, the universe aligns to support their efforts. The decision to take action sets off a chain of events, unexpected encounters, and assistance that one could not have possibly imagined. In conclusion, the quote urges individuals to begin, as boldness and commitment hold the potential for genius, power, and magic.