Commitment

Until one is committed there is a hesitancy, the

chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation)

there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of

which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:

that the moment one definitely commits oneself,

then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur

that would never otherwise have occurred.

A whole stream of events issues from the decision,

raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen

incidents and meetings and material assistance,

which no man could have dreamt would have

come his way.

I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s

couplets:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can,

begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and

magic in it.”

– From the diary of W.H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

According to Wikipedia, the quote is a loose translation of Goethe’s Faust. Here is the original quote:

Concerning all acts of initiative and creation there is one elementary truth — that the moment one definitely commits oneself then divine providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred and which no man could have dreamed would have come their way.