Some wisdom

I once wrote in one of my stories, Plebeian, that life is like the limb of a tree. When something stops a limb from growing, you change course and keep going.
I'd like to append that analogy. Once you get to a certain length, someone comes along with pruning shears and cuts you down, so that the tree may be aesthetically pleasing. Apparently determination and ambition are the first victims of mandatory conformity.