At certain periods it becomes the dearest ambition of a man to keep a
faithful record of his performances, in a book; and he dashes at his
work with an enthusiasm that imposes on him the notion that keeping a
journal is the veriest pastime in the world, and the pleasantest. But if
he only lives twenty-one days, he will find out that only those rare
natures that are made up of pluck, endurance, devotion to duty for
duty’s sake, and invincible determination, may hope to venture upon so
tremendous an enterprise as the keeping of a journal and not sustain a
shameful defeat.... If you wish to inflict a heartless and malignant
punishment upon a young person, pledge him to keep a journal a year.