Hesitation,
or the want of firmness of mind to take proper action at the right moment,
stands in the way of progress and ‘brings about failure and ruin in life. This
is what is implied by the pc. Verb. The reason why hesitation is so fatal to
success is not far: seek. Opportunities come but once in a lifetime. and one
hesitates to utilize it, one loses it for ‘. for time and opportunity once lost
can never, be recalled The lost opportunity may be such as to spoil the man’s futurity
‘was for this that Napoleon the Great was always fond of saying that ‘Every
minute lost gives an opportunity for misfortune” Besides opportunities, eve man
may expect critical times to come upon him sum time or the other dive an opportune
-presents itself to one. e career and bring ruin upon him, for there is no
knowing what misfortune may he hidden beneath the opportunities that come to a
man. Urging his lifetime. If on such occasions he does not take prompt action
but waits to consider what should be done, the danger overpowers him and he is
lost.
Life in this world is a constant struggle every man
tries to outstrip his fellows in the race of life. He who is active and has the
capacity to act with promptness comes out successful, but the who wavers is
left far behind and wakes to find himself hopelessly, beaten, like the hare in
the story of “The Hare and the Tortoise. A hesitating man is never successful
in life. While he deliberated as to the proper course to adopt, the opportunity
for action comes and goes. When perhaps he has finished his deliberation, he
finds that either the favourable chance has slipped by, or someone else more
alert and active has taken advantage of it. There is no room for idleness or
calm and leisurely deliberation. We must “take time by the forelock” and never
allow a favourable moment pass away for want of decision. The inability to
settle at once the plan of action when called upon to do so causes much
suffering and misery and spoils many a bright career. However gifted a man
might be, if he does not possess firmness of mind and the capacity of immediate
action. He can never hope to be victorious in the hard struggle for existence.
The dangers of hesitation are ‘also evident in the commonplace affairs of life.
If the farmer hesitates to plough his land or sow his seed when it is time for
sowing or sloughing and allows the opportune moment to pass away. He cannot
reap any hat- ET and will be compelled to face starvation. The business man ho
hesitates to transact business when the market is favourable suffers great: Losses
To whatever sphere of life we turn, we notice that hesitation leads to nothing but
disaster. While prompt action to success.
How dangerous hesitation is in the practical
affairs of life, not only where individuals are concerned, but also where
nations are in question, will be clear from the following illustrations.
In the Peninsular War, Marshal Soul t had reduced the British troops to the point
of yielding. One determined attack by him at this moment would have completely
routed the British army and as he was about to do so, the Duke of Wellington,
the English general, arrived on the field of battle. At the sight of their
general the English soldiers raised loud cheers of joy. Hearing these shouts,
Marshal Soul t hesitated to attack and this hesitation on his part deprived him
of the change of defeating the English army, which was almost a settled fact.
Hesitation is nothing but weakness in men who do
not possess a strong mind. This is a defect which can easily be remedied, if
one wills it. If one subjects oneself to a mental training and educates one’s
mind to have firmness and resolution, this serious drawback can be overcome. A
man who i wanting in the power of decision finds himself at the mercy of every
circumstance in life.
It has been proved that hesitation is one of the
greatest obstacles standing in the way of progress. It subjects one to failures
and disappointments and in many cases brings utter ruin. It should, therefore,
be the aim of all to overcome this weakness if they happen to have it If they
succeed, they ‘.sill find that life is, after all not so bad as they thought it
to be, for strength of mind will bring success and prosperity to them.