A college friend wandered the dorm bleary-eyed. His aspirations were pre-med. In a moment of revelation, he noted that if he were so inclined, he could find enough material to spend every waking hour studying.
He also recognized that this was college, and he was planning to use at least some of those hours sleeping or socializing.
Therefore, he concluded, he wasn't going to "work as hard as he could" or any such phrase about maximizing one's output/accomplishment. All that remained was satisfying himself.
He went on to study music. He is a professor of musicology now. I never saw him comparably stressed thereafter.
He also recognized that this was college, and he was planning to use at least some of those hours sleeping or socializing.
Therefore, he concluded, he wasn't going to "work as hard as he could" or any such phrase about maximizing one's output/accomplishment. All that remained was satisfying himself.
He went on to study music. He is a professor of musicology now. I never saw him comparably stressed thereafter.