There are times in the life of nations when they feel...

There are times in the life of nations when they feel confident that they can take on the world, that they are capable of meeting any challenge. One reason such a mind-set is important is that it creates an intolerance for laziness, for shoddy products, for open corruption, and for the usual excuses. When people have a strong conviction that they can achieve the possibilities of the future, it makes them less tolerant of impediments in their way to it.