Great is the road I climb, but the garland offered by an easier effort is not worth the gathering.

Sextus Propertious (50 BC – 16 AD) Roman Poet

I run great risk of failing.  It may be that I shall encounter ruin where I look for reputation and a career of honor.  The chances are perhaps more in favour of ruin than of success. But, whatever may be the chances, I shall go on as long as any means of carrying on the fight are at my disposal.

Anthony Trollope (1815 – 1882)  British Novelist

The sages do not consider that making no mistakes is a blessing.  They believe, rather, that the great virtue of man lies in his ability to correct his mistakes and continually make a new man of himself.

Wang Yan-Ming

The work unknown good men have done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.

Thomas Carlyle (1795 – 1881 Scottish Writer