Irony

Courage sees Risk, and nods in acknowledgment of its presence. But Courage attributes to Risk no authority, power, or strength, for it possesses none of its own. Risk is nothing but the possibility of losing a thing that is not firmly ours to begin with, for if it were firmly ours, there would be no Risk of loss.

It is true that unless we are willing to face Risk, and therefore the possibility of permanent loss, we have already forfeited all that we might have gained.

There is a line that must be crossed; that line is Risk. Without crossing it, I remain where I am; where I am, there is no hope of progress. When once I cross that line, however, progress suddenly becomes a potential reality. This potential reality, the possibility of success is, in truth, inherent to Risk, just as is the danger of failure.

Courage nods to Risk, and steps forward, while here I stand, staring at this line.