A World Without Courage

Fear of failure is the single most powerful reason so many people fail to find happiness. They try something once, maybe twice, and then give up. For them, it’s a two times and you are out approached to life. Yet, failure is a natural aspect of life. Failures are something everyone has to deal with. They are not options. Failures are our teachers - - we are supposed to learn from them, not repeat them.

How we think about our failures and mistakes is far more important than the actual act of failing. Our thoughts determine our reactions and our reactions determine who we become. Whoever first said “attitude is everything” gave us a key and said a great deal.

Through the years I have found nine powerful quotes that have helped me screw my head on straight after I’ve done something dumb. Maybe they will do the same for you.

(1) Confucius, BC 551-479, Chinese ethical teacher: “He who makes no mistakes makes nothing.”

(2) Lao-tzu, BC 600-? Chinese philosopher: “Failure is the foundation of success, and the means by which it is achieved.”

(3) James E. Sweeney: “Our mistakes won’t irreparably damage our lives unless we let them.”

(4) William D. Brown: “Failure is an event, never a person.”

(5) Frederick W. Robertson: “Defeat in doing right is nevertheless a victory.”

(6) Caroline L. Gascoigne: “An error gracefully acknowledged is a victory won.”

(7) Thomas A. Edison, 1847-1931, American inventor, founder of General Electric: “They say President Wilson has blundered. Perhaps he has, but I notice he usually blunders forward.”

(8) Elmer G. Letterman, 1897-1982, American author: “A man may fall many times, but he won’t be a failure until he says that someone pushed him.”

And then, this last the one says it all:

(9) Beverly Sills, 1929 - , American opera singer: “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.”

A world without courage is very difficult to live in.