To Risk

　　To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.

　　To weep is to risk appearing sentimental¹.

　　To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

　　To expose feelings is to risk rejection².

　　To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule³.

　　To love is to risk not being loved in return.

　　To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds⁴ is to risk failure.

　　But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

　　The person who risks nothing does nothing， has nothing， is nothing.

　　He may avoid suffering and sorrow， but he cannot learn， feel， change， grow or love.

　　Chained by his certitudes， he is a slave.

　　He has forfeited⁵ his freedom.

　　Only a person who takes risks is free.

　　想大笑，可却要冒会让自己显得很傻的风险；

　　想哭泣，可却要冒会让人感觉自己很伤感的风险；

　　想接近其他事，可却要冒会让自己受牵连的风险；

　　想吐露心声，可却要冒会遭人排斥的风险；

　　想向大家说出自己的梦想，可却要冒会遭人奚落的风险；

　　想爱一个人，可却要冒别人会不爱自己的风险；

　　想面对机会勇往直前，可却要冒会遭受失败的风险。

　　但是，冒险是一定要冒的，因为生活中最大的危险的事是不冒任何风险。

　　不冒任何风险的人将一事无成，一无所有，一无是处。

　　他可以把苦难和辛酸规避掉，但是他不能从中学习、感受、改变、成长和爱。

　　被万事确定无疑才去干的心态束缚着，他就是个奴隶，

　　他丧失了自己的自由。

　　只有敢去冒险的人才是自由的。