The haiku lets meaning float; the aphorism pins it down.

Pessimists fear becoming the dupes of Hope. Optimists enjoy Hope's company, and consider being duped no great matter.

The depressed fall back exhausted from every undertaking.

The tragic hero prefers death to prudence. The comedian prefers playing tricks to winning. Only the villain really plays to win.

Great men wait for the right moment to abandon caution. The rest of us abandon it when impatience becomes too much for us.

Awakening in the morning returns us to life, and to awareness of death.

Mars and Venus are at it again. This time, Hephaestus is standing by with a private detective, a photographer, and a lawyer.