A soul without a high aim is like a ship without a rudder - Thomas Carlyle

This quote from Thomas Carlyle, "A soul without a high aim is like a ship without a rudder," is an example of practical wisdom, filled with simple but informative insight. A ship with properly trimmed sails can travel in any direction in relation to the wind except directly against it. While the set of the sails determines the most efficient use of the available wind, the rudder steers the ship in a specific direction. Without a guiding rudder, the ship can do little more than be blown aimlessly downwind.

A sense of direction
What is true of the wind-powered boat may also reflect a truth about people. Some people seem more content to be blown about by the winds of chance than to make an effort to take charge of their lives. However, being creatively alive involves overcoming inertia and becoming actively engaged in life. After all, isn't doing nothing also a choice?

We can meander through life, or we can become inspired by some beneficial purpose that leads us into a new and wonderful field of exploration. We can achieve a heightened level of awareness, free ourselves from limitations, and direct our energies towards unlimited possibilities. Extraordinary things can begin to happen for us.

Going round in circles
Some people dream of achievement and certainly have talents and abilities. However, they seem to get "bogged down" They run around in circles like rudderless ships making little progress towards their goals. Without a focus or an ideal how can your goals be achieved?