TITLE: Metric space is totally bounded iff every sequence has Cauchy subsequence
QUESTION [7 upvotes]: Prove that a metric space is totally bounded if and only if every sequence has a Cauchy subsequence. 

I think I proved the Cauchy subsequence part:
Let $a_{0},a_{1}, a_{2}, a_{3}, a_{4},...\in X$ be a sequence.
For each $k$, let $F \subseteq X$ be a finite $\frac1k$-net.
Given $I \subseteq \Bbb N_{\ge0}$ and $k>1$ you find an infinite $J \subseteq I$ such that:
$$\exists p\in F:\forall n\in J: d(x_n,p)<\frac1k$$

REPLY [2 votes]: The stated proof of implication totally bounded $\implies $ Cauchy subsequence is more like a sketch of the approach than a complete proof. Here is how it develops: 
Suppose $(a_n)$ is a sequence in a totally bounded metric space $X$. For each $k$, choose a finite $(1/k)$-net in $X$ and call it $F_k$. 
Let $J_0 = \mathbb{N}$ and construct infinite sets $J_0\supset J_1\supset  J_2\supset J_3\supset\cdots $ inductively as follows. For every $n\in J_{k-1}$ there is $p\in F_k$ such that $d(x_n,p)<1/k$. Since $J_{k-1}$ is infinite while $F_k$ is finite, there exists $p\in F_k$ such that the set $J_k : = \{n\in \mathbb{N}:d(x_n, p)< 1/k\}$ is infinite. 
Finally, define subsequence $a_{n_k}$ by letting $n_k$ be some element of $J_k$ that is greater than $n_{k-1}$. This is a Cauchy subsequence. Indeed, for any $\epsilon>0$ there exists $N$ such that $2/N<\epsilon$. For $j,k\ge N$ we have $n_j,n_k\in J_N$, hence there is $p\in F_N$ such that 
$$
d(a_{n_k},p) < \frac{1}{N}, \quad d(a_{n_j},p) < \frac{1}{N}
$$
Thus $d(a_{n_k}, a_{n_j}) < 2/N<\epsilon$ by the triangle inequality.