Venus favors the bold.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
People who make no mistakes lack boldness and the spirit of adventure. They are the brakes on the wheels of progress.
—Dale Turner (1917–2006) American Priest, Columnist, Epigrammist
Who bravely dares must sometimes risk a fall.
—Tobias Smollett (1721–71) Scottish Poet, Novelist
Boldness is a mask for fear, however great.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman Poet
I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little the more, as I grow older.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Act honestly, and answer boldly.
—Danish Proverb
Finite to fail, but infinite to venture.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
He was a bold man that first eat an oyster.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Freedom lies in being bold.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences; whence it is bad in council though good in execution.—The right use of the bold, therefore, is, that they never command in chief, but serve as seconds under the direction of others.—For in council it is good to see dangers, and in execution not to see them unless they be very great.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Put a grain of boldness into everything you do.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
A decent boldness ever meets with friends.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
You must play boldly to win.
—Arnold Palmer (1929–2016) American Professional Golfer
But the fruit that can fall without shaking indeed is too mellow for me.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. Do not hit at all if it can be avoided; but never hit softly.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Historian, Political Leader, Explorer
There is no strong performance without a little fascination in the performer.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
We make way for the man who boldly pushes past us.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
The mind, ever the willing servant, will respond to boldness, for boldness, in effect, is a command to deliver mental resources.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Boldness be my friend.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Moderation is a fatal thing; nothing succeeds like excess.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
He who finds Fortune on his side should go briskly ahead, for she is wont to favor the bold.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Few novels or plays could exist without at least one troublemaker in the group, and perhaps life couldn’t either.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
It is wonderful what strength and boldness of purpose and energy will come from the feeling that we are in the way of duty.
—John Foster Dulles (1888–1959) American Republican Public Official, Lawyer
Fortune befriends the bold.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Courage has genius, power, and magic in it. Only engage, and then the mind grows heated. Begin it and the work is completed.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
In great straits and when hope is small, the boldest counsels are the safest.
—Livy (Titus Livius) (59 BCE–17 CE) Roman Historian
Leave a Reply