Monday 7 June 2010

Inspirational Quotation from Goethe?


First I want to say a big 'Welcome' to all my new followers and to thank everyone who follows and/or contributes to my blog: it really does make a big difference!

By way of thanks, I'd like to post a quotation that has often helped me and I hope it will inspire others who are thinking of taking the leap of faith that it often needs to follow one's dream:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. 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 to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

This quotation is normally attributed to the perhaps most famous German author, Goethe, though I've always  thought it was perhaps a little long-winded for him. And on further investigation, in the form of an article on German misnomers and myths (on About.com) I discovered the true source of the quotation. It's from a book by William Hutchinson Murray, written in 1950s and entitled, 'The Scottish Himalayan Expedition'.

The confusion probably arose from the fact that somewhat similar sentiments are expressed in Goethe's Faust -

Der Worte sind genug gewechselt,
lasst mich auch endlich Taten sehn!

Enough words have been exchanged;
now at last let me see some deeds! (Goethe, Faust I)

'Follow Your Dream' Greeting Card

Whatever the provenance of the quotation, I hope that someone reading it will find it as motivating as I have!

6 comments:

jeanlivingsimple said...

I needed to read this uplifting quote!

Love your artwork and photos. I shall return.

Ulla Hennig said...

Goethe's words could be summarized as
"Don't talk about it, do it!"
which is short enough to be put on a postcard - don't you think, Judy?

Judy Adamson said...

Thank you, Jean - I'm glad the quote hit the spot!

Ulla - why don't you experiment with fonts and put your suggestion on a Zazzle postcard with one of your wonderful photographs? Or perhaps you have done that already?

Carole Barkett said...

Needed to hear that today too

Ulla Hennig said...

Judy,
I created one postcard with a quotation. And I am thinking about putting the font on the photo in photoshop and then upload it to twitter.

Judy Adamson said...

Ulla, will it also be in your Zazzle store or on one of your blogs? I'd love to see it.