12/19/08

Wise Women Friday: Helen Keller

Words of wisdom from Helen Keller:

Security is mostly a superstition.  It does not exist in nature, 
nor do the children of humans as a whole experience it.  
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.  
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

American Helen Keller became blind as the result of a serious childhood illness.  With the help of her devoted teacher Annie Sullivan, she went to become one of the twentieth-century's most inspirational writers, as well as a champion for the disabled, women, and human rights.

Search long and hard, but you will be hard pressed a more risk aversive soul than me.  That's why I like this quote.  It reminds the scared rabbits among us that we can't really run or hide from life's risks.  They will find us, and we must face them.  Better the daring adventure than the dull, lonely cower.  

So be bold.  Be brave.  And hold on tight.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love that quote, just love it. And I think you're brave, Margaret. You may not rock climb or hang glide, but you write with honesty and grace, and that takes courage.

Anonymous said...

I second what AH says but with this bit of caution.

What happens if one of your kids comes to you at 18 with a really ugly drawing of a dragon and a quote lifted from a chinese fortune cookie. They then inform you that they plan on having the above offending sketch tattooed to their leg. Bad enough, yes? then they use your blog against you! quoting Helen Keller. I think about these things. Being one whose erred on the side of reckless more then once, caution has it's place.

Margaret said...

PA: This is like how women with straight hair always wished they had curly and women with curly always wished they had straight. The risk averse always wish we could be bolder, and the risk takers wish they could be more cautious. As for me, I'd like a little more moxie.