[Points: Introduction—two parts—the first part—the second part conclusion].
This is a remark of Goethe, the great German poet and thinker that has almost passed into a proverb. The expression has two parts. The first part lays stress on the need of action for success in the world. Life is not a bed of roses. On the contrary, it is full of dangers and difficulties, trials and temptations, and man has to carry on a hard and constant fight against them. Any slackness in this fight will upset the whole thing and bring about ruin. So man must work and work, patiently and perseveringly. This duty of action is laid on man by the thinkers of all countries. The Hindu philosophy of Karmayoga attainment of the goal of life through Karma or action, the command of the Bible that man must earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, lay stress on the importance of action.
The word 'contemplation' is generally used in the sense of 'deep and serious thought'. But evidently that is not the meaning in which it is used here. For in that case the whole sentence would mean that deep and serious thought is harmful to man, and should, therefore, be avoided by all means. This is contrary to fact and is against the teachings of all great men. Thought precedes action, and it is the duty of every person to think deeply and seriously before he undertakes anything. And 'deep and serious thought' is in itself a form of action. In fact, it is this 'contemplation' that led to the discovery of all the great truths that guide mankind. The word is used here in the sense of vague thoughts, empty dreams, so to say. The saying thus means that instead of wasting our time in empty dreams or endless thinking, we should begin work with firm determination if we are to succeed in life. There are men who think too much and cannot make up their minds or find time for action. Such men, however gifted, cannot achieve their objects. Shakespeare's Hamlet was a young prince of great intellectual powers; still he could not carry out his purpose of avenging the murder of his father because he was constantly thinking of the propriety of the step and of questions like 'to be or not to be' unrelated to the purpose.
So for success in life, we should first think wisely and then 'act and act', firmly and patiently. Once the object is fixed, we should not allow our aim to be swayed by every counterblast of suggestion of warning or by the difficulties that may come in the way. We must remember that too much thinking is another name of irresolution, and irresolution means inaction and stagnation.
