A noted western writer once, after studying the lives of great men, attempted to pinpoint the special qualities that were common to all of them. He came to the conclusion that all of the men he had studied had been filled with curiosity and discontent. Curiosity had kept them in hot pursuit of things, ideas and ideals which had at first eluded them, and discontent had never allowed them to indulge in the thought that they had reached the final peak of achievement. These qualities had proved to be the mainspring of their inspiration.A similar comment is made by Mrs Anita Straket, a mathematics adviser from Wiltshire, in a l08-page educational report she had compiled for the school's council. Evaluating certain traits in talented children, she says, "Pupils who are impatient with anything that is second best are probably gifted." (The Hindustan Times, 2 February, 1983). [Highlight1] A demanding temperament of this kind compels one to go on seeking absolute truth. It prevents one from being content with half-truths and paltry successes, and one is continually spurred on to higher and greater things. Such a temperament demands that duties should be carried out in an ideal way and, indeed, anyone so inclined can never know happiness unless and until things have been done in the best possible way. A man endowed with such a temperament will never stop until the highest good has been achieved. There can be no half measures for him and he will never be content with things of lesser value.
Related Articles
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Principles of Life
Prophet Muhammad is recorded by Hurairah as stating that in worldly matters you should look, not at those above you, but at those below you. Only in this way will you be…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree Website | November 28, 2016The Quran refers to a condition of many people in the following words: Greed for more and more distracted you [from God] till you reached the grave. (…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree Website | May 25, 2015The Prophet once said: "Whoever amongst you wakes up, secure in his home, healthy in his body, having food for the day, then it is as if he has possession of…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree Website | December 29, 2014Unrest is a phenomenon of discontentment. Why does this phenomenon exist? The reason is that every person is born with an unlimited sense of enjoyment.…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree Website | October 13, 2014
The Quran refers to divine food in these words: "Do not regard with envy the worldly benefits We have given some of them, for with these We seek only…
Article
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree Website | September 22, 2014Happiness is the cherished goal of every human being, both man and woman. But, it is a fact that the majority of people fail to achieve happiness. They…