Risk and Freedom 

 To laugh is to risk appearing the fool;
 To weep is to risk appearing sentimental;
 To reach out for another is to risk involvement
 To expose feeling is to risk exposing your true self.

 To place your ideas and your dreams
 before the crowd is to risk their loss
 To love is to risk not being loved in return
 To hope is to risk despair
 To try is to risk failure
 To live is to risk dying.

 But risk must be taken,
 because the greatest hazard in life
 is to risk nothing.
 The person who risks nothing, does nothing,
 has nothing and is nothing;
 They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
 but they simply cannot learn,
 feel change, grow, love, Live
 Chained by their certitude, they are a slave,
 they have forfeited freedom;
 Only the person who risks is free

   -- Author Unknown--