My initial reaction to this was to agree with the statement. And I still sort of do.
But I think women (or men) can be a big distraction if you are trying to create something. That being said the correct woman or men can help you achieve as well if the relationship is stable. The statement "behind every great man" there is a ... is basically true from my experience.
Then there is your "if the relationship is stable". Well, yes, and 'effective'! So, and especially for the huge fraction of men who don't have mothers as helpful as FDR's, how to get such a 'relationship'????!!!! May I suggest Women 101-102!!!!
Otherwise, yup, "can be a big distraction if you are trying to create something". Twelve year old boys, BELIEVE this!
Indeed, one of the first lessons in Women 101-102 is: Since the sixth grade or so, you REALLY wanted the girls to like you, right? So, you did this and that and it didn't work very well, right? Well, heavily what the girls want to see in a boy or man is someone strong, capable, and confident who understands the emotions of girls and women and is nice to them. For a while, being a successful quarterback on the varsity football team can work well. But, big secret: What REALLY works well is to be out of school, have a good career going, have plenty of money in your pocket, have a nice car, say, a recent Corvette, have a house bought, and have plenty of money to be able to support a wife and children. Then a large fraction of the females will, to exaggerate a little, do 'just ANYTHING' to be 'friendly'! Usually they won't even be able to help themselves! Uh, that reaction is a 'built-in function'! With these advantages in place, your brand of aftershave, blue jeans, shoes, cell phone, manner, tone of voice, pickup lines, even height and weight, etc. won't much matter! How 'bout that!
In particular, largely f'get about females your own age. Instead, in your teens, go for girls 1-4 years younger than you are. If she is 13 and you are 16, then she can be REALLY impressed that you have your own car but won't expect you to have a good career or a house yet!
Next, as from an expert on females, "Of COURSE, women are MUCH more emotional than men. That's the cause of all the problems.". Yup, not exactly right, but close! In a 101 level description, what rationalism and logic are for a hacker programming, fixing a car, diagnosing a network problem, etc. emotions are for females. In simple terms, first-cut, at the level males need to understand starting at age 12, the life of a female is all about emotions. Even when she is doing math or science, mostly she is seeking good 'emotions' from praise, acceptance, and approval from others she wants to please!
That's enough!
"Twelve year old boys, BELIEVE this!"
So I read it like "12 year old boys believe this!!!" (mocking)
rather than
"12 year old boys need to understand this!!"
Good points and the inverse is true for women. My sister spent much of high school being popular and although she was smart (and later got a Masters) she didn't achieve as much as she could have had she not been as popular and attractive and good personality. No question in my mind about that.
Man up, walk over to her, and say "Hi. I thought you looked cute and wanted to meet you. I'm Robert." Repeat times 1000. That was your warm-up. Now things should feel much more natural and you will understand a whole lot more about social interaction.
Your remark might be good and, thus, a good contribution to some Web site that tries to provide advice "What I wish my father had explained to me when I was 12, however, I've come to expect that mostly he didn't understand very well."
For making an A in Women 101-102, right, the grade is to come from some unnamed course professor and not from the women the man wants to meet!