Born to Do: It is Not Too Late

Posted: September 22nd, 2009 | Author: A.J. | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 50 Cent, action, Friedrich Nietzsche, machiavelli, Motivation, Robert Greene | No Comments »

“[I]n nooks all over the earth sit men who are waiting, scarcely knowing in what way they are waiting, much less that they are waiting in vain.  Occasionally the call that awakens– that accident which gives the “permission to act — comes too late, when the best youth and strength for action has already been used up by sitting still; and many have found to their horror when they ‘leaped up’ that their limbs had gone to sleep and their spirit had become to heavy.  ‘It is too late,’ they said to themselves, having lost their faith in themselves and henceforth forever useless.“

-Friedrich Nietzsche

This quote is from the newest Robert Greene book, The 50th Law, a collaboration with 50 Cent.  For those not familiar with Mr. Greene, he has written a series of books on Power, Seduction, and War.  He has also become a sort of modern-day Machiavelli with the rap set.  In each, he breaks down the nature of each subject through maxims derived from the greatest generals, philosophers, seducers, and also stories and fables, from multiple cultures.  At the very least for any history buff his previous three are great reads.

Coming back to the quote, I liked the sense of urgency it created.  It’s not about waiting for “the call that awakens,” but awaking whatever it is that you were born to do, not settled into, BORN TO DO, and do most excellently (thanks Bill & Ted).

Wasted human potential is a tragedy, not just personally, but globally.  While it is in our capacity to seek out greatest potential would should strive, in any measure, to reach it.

It is not too late.

//A.J.

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