To Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing the self
To place ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk loss
To love is to risk rejection
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try at all is to risk failure

But we must risk
because the greatest hazard of all
is to risk nothing
For those who risk nothing
do nothing
have nothing
are nothing.

-Author Unknown