A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
John Augustus Shedd
Life is synonymous with adventures and calculated risks. It is meant to be enjoyed, not squandered on meaningless speculations or apprehensions. Of course, this does not mean walking blindly into the storm. The risks we take must be deliberated, taking into account everything that may possibly go wrong. Every arrow you shoot – no matter how far the target is – must be the result of a calculated move, not some misplaced optimism. That said, you must shoot the arrow nonetheless.
Often times in life, we are torn by indecision, which stems from either inexperience or some poor past experiences. Whatever the reason is, this dubiety mostly ends up wiping off precious time from our lives. That’s why we need to learn to be decisive and, at the same time, to not rush into decisions. It is not easy to strike this balance, and you always run the risk of either being overly cautious or outright impetuous. It goes without saying that none of the two situations is a desirable one.
In a nutshell, life is meant for adventures and risk-taking; it is meant to be as vigorous as a river, not like some stagnant pond. While you may lead a particularly safe and harmless life without taking any risks, that is probably not the way you are supposed to live. Remember, even failures can be great teachers. However, one who does not even try stands to gain little – neither from the joy that comes from a victory, nor from the lessons that a failure imparts. John Augustus Shedd was a noted American author and professor. He wrote in his book, Salt from my Attic (1928): “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” This quote is often also attributed to the Italian philosopher and Catholic priest, Saint Thomas Aquinas.