Success begets genius, courage, and self-reliance--all of which contribute to new successes; while failure intimidates and leads to despair.

In a psychological point of view it is a dangerous thing to fail in any undertaking; and, therefore, before undertaking anything, one should be well assured of its being possible and practicable.
Now Von Bloom was not sure that the great design he had formed was practicable.

But in this case, he had no choice.

No other means of livelihood was open to him just then; and he had resolved to make trial of this.

He had faith in his calculations, and he had also good reason to hope he would succeed; but the thing was yet untried.