To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk being called sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being lovedin return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk, and to try is to risk failure
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing,
and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow, love and live.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave, he's forfeited his freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.