Quote of the Day: William Edward Hickson on Life & Wisdom

Notice the word “again.” Not “harder,” not “smarter,” not even “better”, just again. That single syllable lowers the barrier to action. It turns success from a personality trait into a practice, a willingness to re-enter the arena one more time: “If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.”

“Again” is permission to treat failure as information, not identity. When a first attempt falls short, the temptation is to declare the whole goal unrealistic, or to conclude something is wrong with you. But progress rarely comes from one heroic swing; it comes from small revisions made after honest feedback. The second try isn’t a replay. It’s an iteration.

Applied well, this mindset improves how you work and how you feel. Choose a meaningful target, then narrow the next attempt to one adjustment: one new opening line, one different workout pace, one altered conversation approach. Repetition like this builds resilience the way weight builds muscle, through stress, recovery, and return. Over time, persistence becomes confidence because you’ve proven to yourself that setbacks don’t stop the journey; they shape it.

William Edward Hickson earned the right to make persistence sound practical. A 19th-century British writer and social reformer, he advanced education and public improvement through clear-minded prose and enduring moral instruction that aimed to strengthen character, not merely entertain.

Today, pick one stalled goal and give it a five-minute “again”: write the next sentence, send the follow-up message, rehearse the first minute, or try the problem with one new tool. Don’t demand a breakthrough, demand a return, and let that return be your quiet victory. May your next “again” meet you with courage and carry you forward.