20

The Daring Conviction

The writer who starts his screenplay in the quiet of a small room may be thrilled by the thought that the words which he conceives will be heard by millions of people. Such an unimaginably powerful rostrum inspires him to do his very best: he hopes that success, artistic or commercial or both, will crown his efforts.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. At the outset, the traveler may invoke his favorite lucky charm, whether he prefers rubbing a rabbit’s foot, touching wood, or crossing his fingers. In fact, if he were not too embarrassed, he might consult a tea-leaf reader to ascertain whether he will reach his goal.

Since the dawn of time, men have sought oracles to predict the course of events; ...

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