Risk

TO LAUGH IS TO RISK APPEARING A FOOL.
TO WEEP IS TO RISK APPEARING SENTIMENTAL.
TO REACH OUT FOR ANOTHER IS TO RISK INVOLVEMENT.
TO EXPOSE FEELINGS IS TO RISK EXPOSING YOUR TRUE SELF.
TO PLACE YOUR IDEAS, YOUR DREAMS BEFORE A 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.
THEY MAY AVOID SUFFERING AND SORROW BUT THEY
CANNOT LEARN, FEEL, CHANGE, GROW, LOVE, LIVE.
CHAINED BY THEIR CERTITUDE THEY ARE A SLAVE,
THEY HAVE FORFEITED THEIR FREEDOM.
ONLY A PERSON WHO RISKS, IS FREE.

-William Arthur Ward-

Tags: appearing, fool, free, freedom, hazard, loss, risk, slave, ward