Every man is his own chief enemy.
—Anacharsis (fl. 6th century BCE) Scythian Prince
A timid person is frightened before a danger; a coward during the time; and a courageous person afterward.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the time.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
It is the business of the future to be dangerous…. The major advances in civilization are processes that all but wreck the societies in which they occur.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
Danger breeds best on too much confidence.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
The most dangerous thing in the world is to try to leap a chasm in two jumps.
—David Lloyd George (1863–1945) British Liberal Statesman
The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A victory without danger is a triumph without glory.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
Great perils have this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Go at it boldly, and you’ll find unexpected forces closing round you and coming to your aid.
—Basil King (1859–1928) Canadian Clergyman
Our safety is not in blindness, but in facing our danger.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Many have had their greatness made for them by their enemies.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
No one is worthy of a good home here or in heaven that is not willing to be in peril for a good cause.
—John Mason Brown (1900–69) American Columnist, Journalist, Author
It is in great dangers that we see great courage.
—Jean-Francois Regnard (1655–1709) French Dramatist
We cannot banish dangers, but we can banish fears. We must not demean life by standing in awe of death.
—David Sarnoff (1891–1972) American Broadcaster, Businessman
Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The “sure thing” boat never gets far from shore.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
If we are intended for great ends, we are called to great hazards.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
It takes courage to lead a life. Any life.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
In time of danger it is proper to be alarmed until danger be near at hand; but when we perceive that danger is near, we should oppose it as if we were not afraid.
—The Hitopadesha Indian Collection of Fables
The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
Of course people are afraid. But honestly facing that fear, seeing it for what it is, is the only way of putting it to rest.
—Harvey Fierstein (b.1952) American Actor, Playwright, Civil Rights Activist
The person, who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The person who runs away exposes himself to that very danger more than a person who sits quietly.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one, because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed, or exempt from danger.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
We triumph without glory when we conquer without danger.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
However well organized the foundations of life may be, life must always be full of risks.
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939) British Sexologist, Physician, Social Reformer
The wise man in the storm prays God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.
—Thucydides (c.455?c.400 BCE) Greek Historian
I needed some real danger and some mortal risk to run, to tranquilize me.
—Alexandre Dumas, pere (1802–1870) French Novelist, Playwright
There is often less danger in the things we fear than in the things we desire.
—John Churton Collins (1848–1908) English Literary Critic
Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
A man’s opinion of danger varies at different times according to his animal spirits, and he is actuated by considerations which he dares not avow.
—Tobias Smollett (1721–71) Scottish Poet, Novelist
It is easy to be brave when far away from danger.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian