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Human effort is not futile, but man fights against the giant forces of Nature in a spirit of humility.

The demons of depression could find no foothold when he was around

A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old one goes to ground.

The task now was to secure the safety of the party, and to that I must bend my energies and mental power and apply every bit of knowledge that experience of the Antarctic had given me.

The task was likely to be long and strenuous, and an ordered mind and a clear programme were essential if we were to come through without loss of life.

The movement of the floes was beyond all human control, and there was nothing to be gained by allowing one's mind to struggle with the problems of the future, though it was hard to avoid anxiety at times.

The outlook was cheerless indeed, but much work had to be done and we could not yield to the desire to remain in the sleeping-bags.

There are some men who will do more than their share of work and who will attempt more than they are physically able to accomplish.

To admit failure at this stage was hard, but the facts had to be faced.

At any rate, we were on the move at last, and if dangers and difficulties lay ahead we could meet and overcome them.

The task of keeping the galley fire alight was both difficult and strenuous, and it took his thoughts away from the chances of immediate dissolution.

The time for renewed action was coming, and though our situation was grave enough, we were facing the future hopefully.

That was all of tangible things; but in memories we were rich. We had pierced the veneer of outside things.

His cheery optimism never failed, even when food was very short and the prospect of relief seemed remote.