an energetic man will succeed where an indolent one would vegetate and inevitably perish.
 Jules Verne, The Mysterious Island (1874). copy citation

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Author Jules Verne
Source The Mysterious Island
Topic
Date 1874
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by William Henry Giles Kingston
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1268/1268-h/1268-h.htm

Context

“It was on themselves, on themselves alone, that the settlers must depend, for the distance of Lincoln Island from all other land was such, that to hazard themselves in a boat, of a necessarily inferior construction, would be a serious and perilous thing. “But,” as the sailor said, “they quite took the wind out of the sails of the Robinsons, for whom everything was done by a miracle.” In fact, they were energetic; an energetic man will succeed where an indolent one would vegetate and inevitably perish. Herbert distinguished himself in these works. He was intelligent and active; understanding quickly, he performed well; and Cyrus Harding became more and more attached to the boy. Herbert had a lively and reverent love for the engineer.” source