quotes

the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause. and, who at best, if he wins, knows the thrill of high achievement, and if he fails at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls in the outer who know neither victory nor defeat.
john f kennedy 1917-1963

if you want to learn to swim, jump into the water. on dry land no frame of mind is ever going to help you.
bruce lee

i have been all things unholy. if god can work through me, he can work through anyone.
st francis of assisi

first we need to decide what needs to be done. then we do it. and then we ask if it is possible.
paraphrase of a comment by environmentalist paul hawken in a 2009 college commencement address – quoted in preface of  'plan b4.0: mobilizing to save civilization' by lester r. brown

when a thing is new, people say, ‘it is not true.’ later, when its truth becomes obvious, they say, ‘it is not important.’ finally, when its importance cannot be denied, they say, ‘anyway it is not new.’
william james

conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.   max lucade

war is organised murder and nothing else.
harry patch, first world war british veteran (last remaining until his death.)

in the game of life it's a good idea to have a few early losses, which relieves you of the pressure of trying to maintain an undefeated season.
lee trevino

there is no such thing as a natural touch. touch is something you create by hitting millions of golf balls.
lee trevino

that millions share the same form of mental pathology does not make those people sane.
erich fromm

if you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.
lila watson

what do you have that you did not receive? and if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
quote from film ‘into great silence.’

there is one thing that nobody can deny them, and that is courage, the most difficult form of courage in the world – the courage of the individual against the crowd.
captain stephen gwyn (mp & serving officer) june 1917; addressing parliament re conscientious objectors

the fight is won or lost far away from witnesses -- behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road -- long before I dance under those lights.
muhammed ali

i've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. i've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, i've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. i've failed over and over and over again in my life. and that is why i succeed.
michael jordan