Too many beginners become discouraged because progress is slow, or even non-existent. But, really, much depends on the point of view. Without succumbing to the sugary over-optimism of an Emerson, which could make him write that "the soul's highest duty is to be of good cheer"--in such contrast to Buddha's oft-repeated insistence that its highest duty is to see life as suffering--they can at least admit that they have made a start on this conscious quest of truth, that they have discovered there is such a quest, and that there is a magnificent climax to the human adventure. They can be thankful for all this. I have known some men who took this view, who enjoyed being questers, who were even enthusiastic although they had had no inner experiences and made no dramatic progress. They were positive, not negative, thinkers.
-- Notebooks Category 2: Overview of Practices Involved > Chapter 2 : The Measure of Progress > # 19
