Harry Wong - The First Days of School

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk invovlement.
To expose your 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.
Persons who risk nothing to do nothing, have nothing, and are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn,
                                                                                  feel,
                                                                                 change,
                                                                                 grow,
                                                                                 love,
                                                                                 or live.
Chained by their attitudes, they are slaves, for they have forfeited their freedom.

Only a person who risks is free.