We can easily become as much slaves to precaution as we can to fear. Although we can never rivet our fortune so tight as to make it impregnable, we may by our excessive prudence squeeze out of the life that we are guarding so anxiously all the adventurous quality that makes it worth living.
Interpretation
Excessive caution may prevent us from living fully and enjoying life's adventures.
This quote by Randolph Bourne suggests that being overly cautious can lead us to miss out on the experiences that give life its richness and value. While it's important to be prudent, if we allow fear to dictate our actions and decisions, we may end up leading a life devoid of excitement and opportunity, ultimately diminishing the essence of our existence.
In practice
A motivational speech about taking risks in entrepreneurship.
In your reaction to an imagined attack on your country or an insult to its government, you draw closer to the herd for protection, you conform in word and deed, and you insist vehemently that everybody else shall think, speak, and act together. And you fix your adoring gaze upon the State, with a truly filial look, as upon the Father of the flock.
Society is one vast conspiracy for carving one into the kind of statue likes, and then placing it in the most convenient niche it has.
The State is not the nation, and the State can be modified and even abolished in its present form, without harming the nation. On the contrary, with the passing of the dominance of the State, the genuine life-enhancing forces of the nation will be liberated.
War is the Health of the State.
Soon I knew the craft of experimental physics was beyond me - it was the sublime quality of patience - patience in accumulating data, patience with recalcitrant equipment - which I sadly lacked.
I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it
The greatest service you can render someone else is helping him help himself.
When trouble ends even troubles please.
We've got a generation now who were born with semiequality. They don't know how it was before, so they think, this isn't too bad. We're working. We have our attache' cases and our three piece suits. I get very disgusted with the younger generation of women. We had a torch to pass, and they are just sitting there. They don't realize it can be taken away. Things are going to have to get worse before they join in fighting the battle.
Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.
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