Quotes, Quotes, everywhere are Quotes

        What are quotes?  Why do they evoke certain feelings in us?  Better yet, why do some mean more to others than some?  Who knows, but I have a few favorites.  Some are inspirational, some are just plain dumb, but still hold some connection.  One of my favorite quotes is by Theodore Roosevelt.  It reminds of why, when I lose, that it is still a good thing.  It in itself is what is wrong with society today, we don't appreciate a hard fought loss. 

         "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

        Today, not many think this way.  I see people afraid to try for that victory because they are worried about failure, or more importantly, they have gotten accustomed to the mentality that everyone wins.  Everyone gets a trophy for succeeding.  Why even try to win?  It reminds of the major league sports, when they all went on "strike" because 472 million dollars a year wasn't enough to pay their bills.  I would much rather go to a high school, or college ball game.  I particularly like the summer baseball leagues.  Those guys are fighting in the dirt to win, they are giving it their all, it may be their only shot at the majors.  If they fail, they fail, but they tried.  They won't live their lives wondering, could I have made it to the majors.  However, if they make it, they can say, I came out of the mud, the trenches, the very bottom to get where they are.  They know the struggles, they appreciate the determination.  Most of the time, they give deeper value to their accomplishments than if it were given to them. 

      Another quote that I like isn't really a quote, it is an excerpt from one of William Shakespeare's plays.  The king from Henry V and his speech on St. Crispian's Day.

What's he that wishes so?   
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;   
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow   
To do our country loss; and if to live,   
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.   
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.   
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,   
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;   
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;   
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.   
But if it be a sin to covet honour,   
I am the most offending soul alive.   
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.   
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour   
As one man more methinks would share from me   
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!   
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,   
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,   
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,   
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;   
We would not die in that man's company   
That fears his fellowship to die with us.   
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.   
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,   
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,   
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.   
He that shall live this day, and see old age,   
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,   
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'   
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,   
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'   
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,   
But he'll remember, with advantages,   
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,   
Familiar in his mouth as household words-   
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,   
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-   
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.   
This story shall the good man teach his son;   
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,   
From this day to the ending of the world,   
But we in it shall be remembered-   
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;   
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me   
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,   
This day shall gentle his condition;   
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed   
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,   
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks   
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

        Friends, brothers, a fellowship of bonds stronger than any other.  A speech for people that have shared sacrifices, bloodshed and suffering together, and truly understand victory and defeat at the same time.

         So I often wondered why I liked these so much.  Was it because of their eloquent speech that on one speaks like anymore.  Was it the romantic notion of noble victory or defeat?  I could never figure that out, until yesterday when I saw a simple picture and quote on Facebook; yes, facebook, that dreadful social media application.  It was a picture of a little girl in a fairy outfit.  It had that beautiful sepia tone that is part of all phone apps, picture editing software, and of course, Instagram.  It was a cute picture of a little girl imagining some fairy tale.  What was most interesting about the picture was a quote attached to it.  "What if I fall?, But, Oh my darling, what if you fly?"  I imagine my girls at that age, scared to try something and them asking me, as their Dad, their safety; "Daddy, I'm scared to fall."  I have seen this quote many times before, but this one had the word 'fly' italicized.  It dawned on me then.  Fail or succeed, its a crap shoot, but 'fly' is not to succeed, it means to succeed so greatly that it could only be dreamt of.   I realized with just that little quote, several things.  One is that, we can live normal, boring lives everyday, by failing to try.  It is safe to do what is normal.  It is safe to travel the wide road and avoid the road less traveled.  One can be good without effort, one can even be great with minimal effort, but those that really tried, those that failed once but never quit often finished strong.  Some finished Mightily.  Thomas Edison once said something, "I've never failed, I've only found a 1000 ways not to do something."  Imagine if he had given up, or never even tried because of fear of failure. 

         So, again, that final short quote, what was it that evoked such emotion?  Why did that quote mean so much in so few words?  Why does it fall into the category of such works as Shakespeare and a great President?

        It is all because of one common thread.  They strike us at what we all wish we would be, instead of what we choose to be.  We choose the easy path, we choose to do what we know works.  Most of the time, we are hesitant or scared to make that leap into the unknown.  All it takes is that little bit of encouragement.  As I sit here and write this, the realization comes to me that it isn't the quotes themselves, or even what the quotes, but who said them.  A President, Shakespeare through King Henry V, and simply, a Dad.  Whoa!  That is three very different people, but all are figure heads.  Everyone of us have importance to someone.  Everyone of us can influence someone.  President Theodore Roosevelt could influence a nation, King Henry V could influence his nation, and a Dad can influence a child.  So who has more power?  I dare say, the answer is a Dad or a Mom.  Because if a Dad or a Mom can influence a child, that child could be inspired to greatness.  That greatness could be the next light bulb, or to pursue a career in politics.  Maybe as a Dad, I could inspire one of my girls to be those that try to fly.  Maybe their flight could take them to the Presidency one day.  By inspiring one, I inspire many.

        Ultimately, I think quotes often inspire us because of who said them, what the quote mean to us on a personal level, but mostly because they evoke in us, what we often want to be. I find myself in the company of greatness, by knowing what I say could have as much, if not more influence one day than some great leaders of the past.  I want my kids to have more, do better, reach higher and go farther than I ever will. 

         Maybe, when they fly, they'll fly to the stars.  Who knows, maybe one day, I'll be quoted.  I'm sure I already am, but I'm not sure they are always ground-breaking, earth-shattering or inspiring words.