Passage

The man who is perpetually hesitating which of the two things he will do first, will do neither. The man who resolves, but suffers his resolution to be changed by the first counter-suggestion of a friend—who fluctuates from opinion to opinion and veers from plan to plan—can never accomplish anything. He will at best be stationary and probably retrograde in all. It is only the man who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly and then executes his purpose with inflexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit—that can advance to eminence in any line.

QUESTION

CSAT

Medium

Comprehension

Prelims 2017

The keynote that seems to be emerging from the passage is that:

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Option A is correct. The passage explicitly mentions that "the man who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly" is the one who can accomplish things. This clearly supports the idea that consulting wisely and resolving firmly are key steps in achieving success.

Option B is incorrect. The passage criticizes those who change their resolutions based on the first counter-suggestion from a friend. However, it does not advocate for completely rejecting all suggestions. Instead, it emphasizes maintaining firm resolutions despite external influences, which is different from rejecting all advice.

Option C is incorrect. The passage does not directly discuss the importance of being broad-minded. It focuses on resolving firmly and executing plans with perseverance, implying that being open-minded to suggestions is less important than being resolute.

Option D is incorrect. The passage focuses on consulting wisely, resolving firmly, and executing with perseverance. The emphasis is on the process—the order of steps for success—rather than being simply "achievement-oriented. Being resolute (firm in resolution) is crucial, but the passage also emphasizes the importance of wise consultation before making decisions. The phrase "achievement-oriented" in option D is a bit too broad and not as specific as the passage's core message.

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