Archery, Its Theory and Practice

The "aim" is undoubtedly the most abstruse and scientific point connected with the practice of Archery; the most difficult to teach, yet the most necessary to be taught; upon which all successful practice depends, yet respecting which the most sublime ignorance generally prevails; the want of a due understanding of which is all but universal, yet without which understanding an impassable barrier is presented to the progressing a single step beyond the commonest mediocrity. Ignorance of this fundamental principle it is that causes so many Archers endowed with every quality required to make great and accurate shots — health, strength, correctness of eye, &c. — to stand still, as it were, at a certain point, immoveable, and, if I may coin a word, unimproveable — year after year hammering away in the despairing pursuit of bulls' eyes, without any perceptible improvement or increase of skill, until at last,... the whole matter has been given up in sheer hopelessness and disgust at continued ill-success.