Back of ninety-nine out of one-hundred assertions that a thing cannot be done is nothing, but the unwillingness to do it.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Few are they who have never had the chance to achieve happiness … and fewer those who have taken that chance.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
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
There is not any memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
—James Branch Cabell (1879–1958) American Author of Fantasy Fiction
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
If one is forever cautious, can one remain a human being?
—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) Russian Dissident Novelist
People wish to learn to swim and at the same time to keep one foot on the ground.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of ‘crackpot’ than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost.
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
With audacity one can undertake anything, but not do everything.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
—Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) American Sportsperson
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
Don’t play for safety – it’s the most dangerous thing in the world.
—Hugh Walpole (1884–1941) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Dramatist
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 Activist
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 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
One ought never to turn one’s back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Our lives improve only when we take chances—and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves.
—Walter Anderson
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
Unless you enter the tiger’s den you cannot take the cubs.
—Japanese Proverb
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 Author, Mathematician, Clergyman, Logician
No crime is so great as daring to excel.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
During the first period of a man’s life the greatest danger is: not to take the risk. When once the risk has really been taken, then the greatest danger is to risk too much.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
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
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
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
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
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
Life has no romance without risk.
—Sarah Doherty (1959–2023) American Mountaineer, Skier
There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either in or out. There’s no such thing as a life in-between.
—Pat Riley (b.1945) American Basketball Player, Coach
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