“Beware of endeavoring to become a great man in a hurry. One such attempt in ten thousand may succeed. These are fearful odds.”
- Benjamin Disraeli
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
- Ernest Hemingway
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
- Anaïs Nin
“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
- Proverbs 13:11
"Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise."
- Corinthians 3:18
“To learn to be always in a state of meditation means never to let your vital energy wane. You would never allow it to do so if it were certain that you were to die tomorrow. It wanes because you forget about death. Grit your teeth, fix your gaze, and observe death at this moment. You have to feel it so strongly that it seems as if it's attacking you. Fearless energy comes from this. At this moment, death is right before your eyes. It's not something you can afford to neglect."
- Suzuki Shōsan
“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow."
- Robert Pirsig