Echoes

We have a given problem to solve. If we undertake the solution, there is, of course, always danger that we may not solve it aright; but to refuse to undertake the solution simply renders it certain that we cannot possibly solve it aright.

For if he who resolveth bravely oftentimes falleth short, how shall it be with him who resolveth rarely or feebly?

It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half of the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen.

It is only by risking our persons from one hour to another that we live at all. And often enough our faith beforehand in an uncertified result is the only thing that makes the result come true.

The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.

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 in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who 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 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 neither know victory nor defeat.

It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything.

Do the thing, and you shall have the power; but they who do not do the thing have not the power.

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.

Arise, begin this very moment, and say, “Now is the time to do: now is the time to fight, now is the proper time for amendment.”

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?

Take a step forward, lads. It will be easier that way.

Fortune favors the brave.

I assert once again as a truth to which history as a whole bears witness that men may second their fortune, but cannot oppose it; that they may weave its warp, but cannot break it. Yet they should never give up, because there is always hope, though they know not the end and more towards it along roads which cross one another and as yet are unexplored; and since there is hope, they should not despair, no matter what fortune brings or in what travail they find themselves.

Audacity succeeds as often as it fails; in life it has an even chance.

The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them.

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.

If you're afraid — don't do it. If you're doing it — don't be afraid.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.