The Thoughts of W.H. Murray

I've recently been reading W.H. Murray's autobiography "The Evidence of Things Not Seen - A Mountaineer's Tale". It's a fascinating and well written account of his exploits as a climber, a P.o.W., an explorer and a lover of wild places. If you get the chance to read it, I thoroughly recommend you do!

Anyway, at the end of the section dealing with his exploration of the Himalaya, he muses over his experiences and the lessons learnt. I thought this bit might be encouraging for those entered for the TGOC 2011, and those others, like myself, who are planning ahead for 2012. I quote:

"Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one commits oneself, then providence moves too. All kinds of things occur to help one that would not otherwise have occurred. A whole series of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforseen incidents, and meetings, and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it"