"The moral of the [[American]] tall tale about the rail worker [[John Henry]] is often lost on people. He challenges the steam-powered drilling machine, and through sheer strength and inhuman will, he beats it. It’s great. Inspiring. Except he dies at the end! Of exhaustion! “**In real life**,” George Orwell observed, “**it is always the anvil that breaks the hammer**.”" ([Location 2402](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07QY3CZ9L&location=2402)) --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[teaching anecdotes]], [[work-life-balance]], [[resting]] **Source** -- [[202409180133 - B - Stillness is the Key]]