Life is either always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope.
Victories that are cheap are cheap. Those only are worth having which come as the result of hard fighting.
The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.
People who are born even-tempered, placid and untroubled-secure from violent passions or temptations to evil-those who have never needed to struggle all night with the angel to emerge lame but victorious at dawn, never become great saints.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value.
To conquer without risk is to triumph without glory.
There could be no honor in a sure success, but much might be wrested from a sure defeat.
The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity.
There is no memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
The only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.
The only things you regret are the things you don't do.
The defense force inside of us wants us to be cautious, to stay away from anything as intense as a new kind of action. Its job is to protect us, and it categorically avoids anything resembling danger. But it's often wrong.
For of all sad words of tongues or pen the saddest are these: It might have been.
To play it safe is not to play.
Better hazard once than always be in fear.
No one would have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in the storm.
Nine times out of ten the best thing that can happen to a young man is to be tossed overboard and compelled to sink or swim.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
There are those who have discovered that fear is death in life, and have willingly risked physical death and loss of all that is considered valuable in order to live in freedom.
I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth; and truth rewarded me.
