There's a fine line between stubbornness and the positive side

Hear now the words of Jeb Bush, which shine like a warning fire upon the path of ambition: “There’s a fine line between stubbornness and the positive side of that, which is dogged determination.” In this saying lies a truth as old as the mountains—that strength of will may be both a burden and a blessing, both a chain that binds and a sword that liberates. For the human spirit is fierce, yet it must be guided lest it turn its own power inward and consume itself.

To be stubborn is to resist change for the sake of pride, to cling to a course even when wisdom and reason call for a new way. The ancients called this folly: a man may drive his ship against the rocks simply because he refuses to alter the sail, though the stars themselves point him elsewhere. But to embrace dogged determination is to endure trial with purpose, to stand firm when others falter, not from blindness, but from vision. The line between the two is fine indeed, yet upon it rests the difference between ruin and triumph.

Consider the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the explorer who sought to cross Antarctica. When his ship, the Endurance, was crushed by ice, he could have let stubbornness drive him deeper into folly, clinging to a doomed plan. Yet instead, he transformed his will into dogged determination, refusing to surrender his men to death. Through bitter cold and endless hardship, he adjusted his goal—not conquest of the continent, but survival of every soul. By his unyielding resolve, every one of his men returned alive. This is the power of determination, purified of pride.

Yet how many throughout history have erred by mistaking stubbornness for strength! Think of General Custer at Little Bighorn, who in his pride pressed forward against overwhelming odds, unwilling to retreat or reconsider. His stubbornness blinded him, and it led to destruction. His tale endures as a warning that the will without wisdom becomes arrogance, and arrogance is a path that leads to the grave.

The teaching, then, is that willpower must be tempered by humility. A warrior must know when to stand and when to bend, when to hold fast and when to change course. Dogged determination is not blindness, but clarity; it sees the mountain ahead and says, “I will climb it, though it cost me dearly.” Stubbornness, however, sees a wall of fire and says, “I will walk through, though it consume me.” The difference lies not in the strength of the will, but in the wisdom of the aim.

Let this be the lesson: guard your heart against pride, but do not let your will grow weak. Seek counsel from the wise, listen to the signs around you, and weigh carefully whether your path is noble or vain. When you find that your cause is just, then pursue it with dogged determination, refusing to yield to fear or fatigue. But when you discover that your path leads only to ruin, do not mistake retreat for cowardice—sometimes wisdom is the greatest form of courage.

Practical steps are thus: before committing to a course, pause and ask yourself—am I moved by pride, or by purpose? Am I deaf to counsel, or am I steadfast in truth? Surround yourself with companions who dare to question you, for they will be your safeguard against blind stubbornness. At the same time, nurture endurance within yourself, for the road of destiny is long, and only those who persevere reach the summit.

So, O listener, take Jeb Bush’s words as both warning and inspiration. Walk the fine line with care. Reject the shackles of stubbornness, but embrace the fire of dogged determination. For in that fire lies the strength to endure hardship, to achieve greatness, and to inspire generations yet unborn.