To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your feeling is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd
is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is risk to failure.
But risks must be taken because
the greatest hazard is to risk nothing.
Those who risk nothing,
do nothing, have nothing,
and are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they simply cannot learn,
feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their own fears, they are slaves;
They have forfeited freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
— Author unknown