"Many a person who started out to conquer the world in shining army has ended up just getting along. The horse got tired, the army rusty. The goal was removed and unsure"

This quote by Robert A. Cook talks to the idea that many people start out with enthusiastic objectives and dreams, however often wind up opting for less than they had actually originally planned. The metaphor of a shining army is used to represent the ambition and drive of the person, while the horse and army represent the energy and resources required to achieve the objective. The quote recommends that, in time, the person's ambition and resources can become diminished, leading to the objective ending up being uncertain and ultimately got rid of. This can be viewed as an alerting to those who set out to conquer the world, as it is necessary to maintain focus and energy in order to attain one's objectives. Eventually, this quote serves as a tip that it is very important to remain motivated and to not give up on one's dreams, even when the going gets tough.