Use your strength to do bold things....

I heard this quote from Machiavelli this morning and liked it so much I had to make a blog entry to make sure I didn't lose it. 

All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.Niccolò Machiavelli

I especially liked the last line about developing strength to do bold things and not use it to stand up to suffering.  I've fallen into this trap and was happy to see the problem so artfully articulated.

I also like the statement that all courses of action are risky.  I've fought against the urge to be "safe" and giving up my ambitions.  So far, I'm happy with the result.