A man of words and not of deeds,
Is like a garden full of weeds;
And when the weeds begin to grow,
It’s like a garden full of snow;
And when the snow begins to fall,
It’s like a bird upon the wall;
And when the bird away does fly,
It’s like an eagle in the sky;
And when the sky begins to roar,
It’s like a lion at the door;
And when the door begins to crack,
It’s like a stick across your back;
And when your back begins to smart,
It’s like a penknife in your heart;
And when your heart begins to bleed,
You’re dead, and dead, and dead, indeed.
(Charles Perrault 1628–1703)
"Be like the bird,
who halting in his flight
on limb too slight
feels it give away beneath him yet sings,
knowing he has wings."
-Victor Hugo
“The worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself.” – Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
"Sometimes when you win, you don't really win. And sometimes when you lose, you really win." - TawnyC