Tenacity: humanity’s greatest gift, or the mark of our insanity?

Posted by on May 31, 2010 in General, Randomness |

“Where there is life there is hope.” This is a quote attributed to Cicero that I was taught as a child, well, a slight variation was taught to me “Where there is breath there is hope.” same general idea.

However as an adult I have learned something new.

The mark of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

We as a race tend toward tenacity. We will attempt to do the same thing over and over despite multiple failures. Sometimes this is amazing, for example it has led to humanity taking flight, and going to the moon. I believe if enough people put their minds too it eventually that tenacity will lead to humanity living on other planets.

Mars anyone? (Personally this is the direction I think our space program needs to be taking but no one has asked me.)

However there is a fine line between tenacity and insanity.  There are times when doing the same thing over and over does not in fact help our cause. See our continued reliance on oil despite the dangers it presents to the environment and the risks associated with offshore oil drilling.

Hmmm, yeah, I’m suffering from disillusionment over the oil hemorrhaging in the gulf.

I suppose the same could be said for query letters.  😉 But the fact is whether it’s tenacity or insanity I’ll continue to send them.

Cause let’s face it, Cicero was right. As long as there is life there will be hope.

So in honor of humanities tenacity I have reposted Forward Momentum in the Chelsea Cole Files.  Enjoy.