"Ne demandez pas de garanties. Et ne cherchez pas à être sauvé dans quoi que ce soit, personne, machine ou bibliothèque. Faites votre propre part de sauvetage, et si vous vous noyez, au moins mourrez en sachant que vous vous dirigiez vers le rivage."

Simplified Meaning:

This quote encourages people to rely on themselves rather than expecting absolute assurances or help from others or external sources. It's like when you are learning to swim. Instead of waiting for someone to always hold you up or expecting a floatation device to always be there, you should practice and try to keep yourself afloat. If you struggle and even feel like you might sink, at least you know you've been actively trying to make it on your own and move in the right direction. For example, if someone wants to start a new business, they shouldn't depend solely on promises from investors or trust that the perfect opportunity will come along. They need to do their own research, put in their own effort, and make things happen through their own actions. If things don't work out perfectly, at least they'll have the satisfaction of knowing they gave it their best shot and learned a lot along the way. This way of thinking teaches self-reliance and encourages active effort and persistence, making it clear that personal growth and progress come from our own endeavors.