“To throw cold water on a business,” to retard its progress by idle scruples, or by more than necessary caution, is at least the manner in which the phrase is used by us. As few great actions can be achieved without some danger, or any work of eminence performed without hazard, to magnify these and to suppose them to be inevitable, because they are possible, is to check the progress of invention and improvement in the world.
“Chi troppo s’assottiglia, si scavessa,” who refines too much concludes nothing, or who makes himself too wise, becomes a fool.
“He that regardeth the wind, shall not sow; and he that looketh at the clouds shall not reap ;” the face of the sky not affording certain signs, indicating that the weather will continue for a sufficient space of time favorable to those operations : we therefore say, ” nothing venture, nothing have:”
“Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win,
By fearing to attempt.”
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