Our safety is not in blindness, but in facing our danger.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
If you’re not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business.
—Ray Kroc (1902–84) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one’s mistakes.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
To avoid an occasion for our virtues is a worse degree of failure than to push forward pluckily and make a fall.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Rich people see opportunities. Poor people see obstacles. Rich people see potential growth. Poor people see potential loss. Rich people focus on rewards. Poor focus on the risks.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Be bold. If you’re going to make an error, make a doozy, and don’t be afraid to hit the ball.
—Billie Jean King (b.1943) American Tennis Player
There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
It takes courage to lead a life. Any life.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try.
—Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
To live differently, to love differently, to think differently, or to try to. Is the danger of beauty so great that it is better to live without it (the standard model)? Or to fall into her arms fire to fire? There is no discovery without risk and what you risk reveals what you value.
—Jeanette Winterson (b.1959) English Novelist, Journalist
It is impossible to win the great prizes of life without running risks, and the greatest of all prizes are those connected with the home.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated; you can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.
—David Lloyd George (1863–1945) British Liberal Statesman
Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one, because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed, or exempt from danger.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
The policy of being too cautious is the greatest risk of all.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
We may by our excessive prudence squeeze out of the life we are guarding so anxiously all the adventurous quality that makes it worth living.
—Randolph Bourne (1886–1918) American Writer, Scholar
Courage is rarely reckless or foolish … courage usually involves a highly realistic estimate of the odds that must be faced.
—Margaret Truman (1924–2008) American Singer, Writer, Historian
He that is overcautious will accomplish but very little.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
To play it safe is not to play.
—Robert Altman (1925–2006) American Film Director, Producer
The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Better that we should die fighting than be outraged and dishonored. Better to die than to live in slavery.
—Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) British Suffragette Leader
Men are wise in proportion, not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Of course people are afraid. But honestly facing that fear, seeing it for what it is, is the only way of putting it to rest.
—Harvey Fierstein (b.1952) American Actor, Playwright, Civil Rights Activist
Go at it boldly, and you’ll find unexpected forces closing round you and coming to your aid.
—Basil King (1859–1928) Canadian Clergyman
There is no security in life, only opportunity.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
The fixed determination to have acquired the warrior soul, to either conquer or perish with honor, is the secret of victory.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
No one reaches a high position without daring.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Entrepreneurs are risk takers, willing to roll the dice with their money or reputation on the line in support of an idea or enterprise. They willingly assume responsibility for the success or failure of a venture and are answerable for all its facets. The buck not only stops at their desks, it starts there too.
—Victor Kiam (1926–2001) American Entrepreneur
It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
Moderation? It’s mediocrity, fear, and confusion in disguise. It’s the devil’s dilemma. It’s neither doing nor not doing. It’s the wobbling compromise that makes no one happy. Moderation is for the bland, the apologetic, for the fence-sitters of the world afraid to take a stand. It’s for those afraid to laugh or cry, for those afraid to live or die. Moderation…is lukewarm tea, the devil’s own brew.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
Perseverance and audacity generally win.
—Dorothee Luzy Dotinville (1747–1830) French Dancer, Actress
There is no gathering the rose without being pricked by the thorns.
—The Panchatantra Indian Collection of Fables and Folktales
Don’t listen to those who say, “It’s not done that way.” Maybe it’s not, but maybe you will. Don’t listen to those who say, “You’re taking too big a chance.” Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be rubbed out by today. Most importantly, don’t listen when the little voice of fear inside of you rears its ugly head and says, “They’re all smarter than you out there. They’re more talented, they’re taller, blonder, prettier, luckier and have connections … ” I firmly believe that if you follow a path that interests you, not to the exclusion of love, sensitivity, and cooperation with others, but with the strength of conviction that you can move others by your own efforts, and do not make success or failure the criteria by which you live, the chances are you’ll be a person worthy of your own respect.
—Neil Simon (1927–2018) American Playwright
We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
We may make mistakes—but they must never be mistakes which result from faintness of heart or abandonment of moral principles.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
Every time we’ve moved ahead in IBM, it was because someone was willing to take a chance, put his head on the block, and try something new.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
Every noble acquisition is attended with its risks; he who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain the other.
—Metastasio (1698–1782) Italian Poet, Librettist
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Who bravely dares must sometimes risk a fall.
—Tobias Smollett (1721–71) Scottish Poet, Novelist
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
If we listened to our intellect we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go in business because we’d be cynical: It’s gonna go wrong. Or She’s going to hurt me. Or, I’ve had a couple of bad love affairs, so therefore … Well, that’s nonsense. You’re going to miss life. You’ve got to jump off the cliff all the time and build your wings on the way down.
—Ray Bradbury (b.1920) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
To conquer without risk is to triumph without glory.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
However well organized the foundations of life may be, life must always be full of risks.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer
It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before… to test your limits… to break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
—Anais Nin (1903–77) French-American Essayist
Run for daylight.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
The men who have done big things are those who were not afraid to attempt big things, who were not afraid to risk failure in order to gain success.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Take a risk a day—one small or bold stroke that will make you feel great once you’ve done it. Even if it doesn’t work out the way you wanted it to, at least you’ve tried. You didn’t sit back…powerless. Watch what starts to happen when you expand your comfort zone…with each risk you take, each time you move out of what feels comfortable, you become more powerful… As your power builds, so does your confidence, so that stretching your comfort zone becomes easier and easier, despite any fear you may experiencing. The magnitude of the risks you take also expands.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Dare to be naive.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
—John Augustus Shedd (1858–1931) American Author
Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even, the greatest business triumph would be dull, routine, and eminently unsatisfying.
—J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) American Business Person, Art Collector, Philanthropist
A ship is safest at the harbor, but that is not where it is supposed to be.
—N. R. Narayana Murthy (b.1946) Indian Businessperson, Philanthropist
If you limit your actions in life to things that nobody can possibly find fault with, you will not do much.
—Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) (1832–98) British Anglican Author, Mathematician, Clergyman, Photographer, Logician
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
—Common Proverb
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.
—T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935) British Soldier, Scholar, Writer
Somebody must take a chance. The monkeys who became men, and the monkeys who didn’t are still jumping around in trees making faces at the monkeys who did.
—Lincoln Steffens (1846–1936) American Journalist, Academic, Political Philosopher
There could be no honor in a sure success, but much might be wrested from a sure defeat.
—T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935) British Soldier, Scholar, Writer
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.
—James Bryant Conant (1893–1978) American Chemist, Educator
Unless you choose to do great things with it, it makes no difference how much you are rewarded, or how much power you have.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.
—Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) New Zealand-born British Author
The knowledge that you can handle anything that comes your way is the key to allowing yourself to take healthy, life-affirming risks.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
The fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the last generation.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
He who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
The loving are the daring.
—Bayard Taylor (1825–78) American Poet, Literary Critic, Translator, Translator
It seems that the necessary thing to do is not to fear mistakes, to plunge in, to do the best that one can, hoping to learn enough from blunders to correct them eventually.
—Abraham Maslow (1908–70) American Psychologist, Academic, Humanist
The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Defensive strategy never has produced ultimate victory.
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American Military Leader
Risk is a part of God’s game, alike for men and nations.
—George Edward Woodberry (1855–1930) American Literary Critic, Poet
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
What kind of man would live where there is no daring?. I don’t believe in taking foolish chances but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all.
—Charles Lindbergh (1902–74) American Aviator, Inventor, Conservationist
Play the game for more than you can afford to lose… only then will you learn the game.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
To get profit without risk, experience without danger, and reward without work is as impossible as it is to live without being born.
—A. P. Gouthey
The person, who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
He that would have the fruit must first climb the tree.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Be brave enough to live creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can’t get there by bus, only by hard work, risking, and by not quite knowing what you’re doing. What you’ll discover will be wonderful: yourself.
—Alan Alda (b.1936) American Actor, TV Personality, Screenwriter
The most prominent place in hell is reserved for
those who are neutral on the great issues of life.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
If a man is alive, there is always danger that he may die, though the danger must be allowed to be less in proportion as he is dead-and-alive to begin with. A man sits as many risks as he runs.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
—Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) American Sportsperson
Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.
—Babe Ruth (1895–1948) American Baseball Legend
The greater the obstacle, the more glory we have in overcoming it; the difficulties with which we are met are the maids of honor which set off virtue.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
The bravest are the tenderest. The loving are the daring.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
The innocence that feels no risk and is taught no caution is more vulnerable than guilt, and oftener assailed.
—Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–67) American Poet, Playwright, Essayist
The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere.
—Charles F. Kettering (1876–1958) American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it’s cracked up to be. That’s why people are so cynical about it. … It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
It is the business of the future to be dangerous…. The major advances in civilization are processes that all but wreck the societies in which they occur.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
The method of the enterprising is to plan with audacity and execute with vigor.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
If your life is free of failures, you’re not taking enough risks.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
If we are intended for great ends, we are called to great hazards.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
One of the reasons mature people stop learning is that they become less and less willing to risk failure.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Government Official, Political leader
The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one’s self to destiny.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Calculation never made a hero.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
The willingness to take risks is our grasp of faith.
—George Edward Woodberry (1855–1930) American Literary Critic, Poet
If you play it safe in life, you’ve decided that you don’t want to grow anymore.
—Shirley Hufstedler (1925–2016) American Lawyer, Jurist
To render ourselves insensible to pain we must forfeit also the possibilities of happiness.
—John Lubbock (1834–1913) English Politician, Biologist
Live. If you live, God will live with you. If you refuse to run his risks, he’ll retreat to that distant heaven and be merely a subject for philosophical speculation. Everyone knows this, but no one takes the first step, perhaps for fear of being called insane.
—Paulo Coelho (b.1947) Brazilian Songwriter, Novelist
We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields, or if it beats you sometimes, dare it again and you will succeed.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
—Wayne Gretzky (b.1961) Canadian Sportsperson
I am a writer who came of a sheltered life. A sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within.
—Eudora Welty (1909–2001) American Short Story Writer, Novelist
The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.
—Michelangelo (1475–1564) Italian Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Poet, Engineer
Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
It is easy to be brave when far away from danger.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The “sure thing” boat never gets far from shore.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor