What does this quote mean?

“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”

Speed without judgment can undermine the very goal a person is pursuing, so patience becomes part of effective action.

Source note: Act 2, Scene 3; Friar Laurence urges Romeo to move with greater care.

“Activity does not consist in velocity of change but in constancy of purpose.”

Being busy or changing quickly is not the same as purposeful action; continuity of aim gives activity its direction.

Source note: The Life of Reason; the line appears in Santayana’s analysis of ideas, activity, and sustained direction.

“If you would make anything a habit, do it.”

Habit formation is reduced to repeated action: the behavior itself is what trains the pattern.

Source note: Discourses; Epictetus gives the instruction while explaining how repeated acts strengthen habits.

“Generally then if you would make anything a habit, do it.”

Repeated behavior trains the corresponding habit, so change depends on practicing the desired action rather than merely endorsing it in theory.

Source note: Discourses, George Long translation; Epictetus explains that faculties and habits are strengthened by corresponding actions.

“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

Work is valuable not merely because it is difficult, but because the difficulty is attached to something judged worth doing.

Source note: Speech at Syracuse, New York, September 7, 1903.

“Well done is better than well said.”

Franklin gives execution priority over impressive promises or intentions.

Source note: Poor Richard’s Almanack.