FOCUS OF MIND

Charles Darwin (1809–1882) is one of the most famous thinkers of modern times. Although the writer of these lines does not agree with his theory, it is still true that no other thinker has shaped modern thought as much as Darwin.

Darwin earned his extraordinary place through extraordinary effort. The Encyclopaedia Britannica (1984) describes him like this:

“All his mental energy was focused on his subject, and that was why poetry, pictures, and music ceased in his mature life to afford him the pleasure that they had given him in his earlier days.” (Vol. 5, p. 495)

Darwin devoted all his mental focus to his field of study; as a result, poetry, art, and music no longer brought him the joy they once did.

Such concentration is essential for great success, whether in a good cause or a bad one. Until a person becomes so absorbed in their goal that everything else fades away—until nothing else gives them pleasure—they cannot achieve anything great. All great people have worked in this way. There is no other method for doing great work.

When a person is fully absorbed in a task, its hidden secrets are revealed to them. Only then can they pay attention to every necessary detail. Only then can all their natural abilities come together for that one purpose. Without focus and dedication, no great success is possible. Most people do not work with complete concentration—and that is why most people never achieve greatness.