"The man whose life is devoted to paperwork has lost the initiative. He is dealing with things that are brought to his notice, having ceased to notice anything for himself"

This quote by C. Northcote Parkinson talks to the importance of effort and doing something about it. It suggests that when a person's life is committed to documentation, they have lost the effort to act and notification things for themselves. Instead, they are just dealing with things that are brought to their attention. This quote indicates that a life devoted to paperwork is a life of passivity, where the individual is not actively seeking out brand-new opportunities or taking initiative to make changes. It suggests that a life of paperwork is a life of stagnation, where the individual is not actively engaging with the world around them. This quote encourages us to take initiative and be proactive in our lives, instead of just responding to what is brought to our attention.