Quotes: Václav Havel

"Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up to the step; we must step up the stairs." 

–– Václav Havel (1936-2011), Czech playwright, poet, statement, political dissident

via: Commonplace Book 2006-2009, 2007, p. 79. 

Quotes: Joyce Carol Oates

"Anything that happens to me as a writer has been precipitated by an action of my own."

––  Joyce Carol Oates (b. 1938), American writer 

via: Commonplace Book 2006-2009, 2008, p. 155. 

Quotes: Marcus Aurelius

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." 

–– Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD), Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher 

via: Sketchbook O 15, 2024, p. 21.

Quotes: Harry S. Truman

"There is some risk involved in action, there always is. But there is far more risk in failure to act." 

–– Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), 33rd President of the United States 

via: Aboveground Art Supplies Knapsack Sketchbook 2020, 2024, p. 40. 

Source: Peter Attia. Outlive. New York: Harmony Books, 2023; p. 111.

Quotes: Buddha

"A idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea." 

–– Buddha, formerly known as Siddhartha Gautama (623 or 563 BCE to 543 or 483 BCE), Indian philosopher and founder of Buddhism

via: Aboveground Art Supplies Knapsack Sketchbook 2020, 2024, p. 35. 

Quotes: Joan Baez

"Action is the antidote to despair."

–– Joan Baez (b. 1941), American singer, songwriter, musician and activist

Quotes: Matt Haig

"Crying releases stress hormones. Swearing increases pain tolerance. Fury can motivate us into action."

 –– Matt Haig (b. 1975), English author and journalist 

Source: Matt Haig. The Comfort Book. Toronto: HarperCollins, 2021, p. 136.

via 2020 Aboveground Art Supplies Knapsack Sketchbook, 2021, p. 5.

Quotes: Christiana Figueres

"Any experience, any interaction, anything can be mundane. And anything can be spiritual. The very same interaction, the very same experience can be either mundane or spiritual. The only difference between the two is how I live it. What quality of presence do I bring to it? Mindsets lead to narratives, lead to action, and above all, that every single action of ours carries our signature." 

–– Christiana Figueres (b. 1956), Costa Rican diplomat 

Source: The Marginalian, November 13, 2023.

Quotes: Marcus Aurelius

"Get busy with life's purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue."

–– Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD), Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher 

via: Sketchbook 32, 2022, p. 146.

Quotes: Auguste Rodin

"Patience is also a form of action."  

–– Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), French sculptor 

via: Sketchbook 32, 2022, p. 40.

Quotes: Jean-Luc Godard

"He who jumps into the void owes no explanation to those who stand and watch." 

–– Jean-Luc Godard (1930-2022), French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic 

via: Sketchbook 26, 2022, p. 133. 

Quotes: David Horvitz

"Do something everyday, regardless. Nothing will happen unless you first initiate a process of cause and effect. This starts with an action. Reawaken the possibility of possibility. Reawaken it with play." 

–– David Horvitz (b. 1982), American visual artist 

via: Sketchbook 15, 2011, p. 143

Quotes 154: Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The ancestor of every action is a thought." 

–– Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American philosopher and writer

via Book of Commonplace 2005-2006, p. 182.