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 feelings is--to risk exposing your true self.

To place you ideas, you 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-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 is nothing. She may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, fee, change, gor love--live. Chained by her certitiudes, she is a slave,  she has forfeited her freedom.

Only a person who risks is free.

 

(From the "President's Newsletter," Phi Beta Kappa, November 1982)