Here are a few 'quotes' I have stumbled upon and like:
1. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
2. By an unknown author:
"As you journey through life,
Choose your destinations well,
But do not hurry for you will arrive soon enough.
Wander the backroads of forbidden paths,
Keeping your destinations in your heart,
Like the fixed points of a compass.
Seek out new visions, strange sights,
And ideas foreign to your own;
Such things are riches for your soul.
And if upon arrival you find your destination,
To be not exactly as you had dreamed,
Do not be disappointed.
Think of all you would have missed but for the journey there,
And know that the true worth of your travels,
Lies not where you come to be at journey’s end,
But in who you come to be, and the difference you make along the way."
3. Theodore Roosevelt, 1899:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs; and who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though chequered by failure, then to rank amongst the poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory or defeat."
4. Nadine Star, aged 86. 'If I had my life to live over'
"I'd like to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles but fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had my life to live over I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd have nothing else. Just moments. one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life over, I would start barefoot earlier in the Spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would pick more daisies, relax."
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
2. By an unknown author:
"As you journey through life,
Choose your destinations well,
But do not hurry for you will arrive soon enough.
Wander the backroads of forbidden paths,
Keeping your destinations in your heart,
Like the fixed points of a compass.
Seek out new visions, strange sights,
And ideas foreign to your own;
Such things are riches for your soul.
And if upon arrival you find your destination,
To be not exactly as you had dreamed,
Do not be disappointed.
Think of all you would have missed but for the journey there,
And know that the true worth of your travels,
Lies not where you come to be at journey’s end,
But in who you come to be, and the difference you make along the way."
3. Theodore Roosevelt, 1899:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs; and who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though chequered by failure, then to rank amongst the poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory or defeat."
4. Nadine Star, aged 86. 'If I had my life to live over'
"I'd like to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles but fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had my life to live over I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd have nothing else. Just moments. one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life over, I would start barefoot earlier in the Spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would pick more daisies, relax."