Reading Stendhal‘s The Red and The Black (French & English versions), I came across a passage that fits perfectly with almost any situation where great plans stop right there.
Ah! que l’intervalle est cruel entre un grand projet conçu et son
exécution! Que de vaines terreurs! que d’irrésolutions! Il s’agit de la
vie.
—Il s’agit de bien plus: de l’honneur!
SCHILLER
Oh, how cruel is the interval between the conception and the execution of a great project! What vain fears, what fits of irresolution! It has to do with life or death!
— It has to do with much more than that: it has to do with honor!
SCHILLER
Adrian Dobre 