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He who would greatly deserve must greatly dare.
Washington Irving
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Interpretation

What this quote means

To achieve great things, one must take significant risks.

This quote by Washington Irving emphasizes the idea that in order to attain greatness or earn a significant reward, one must be willing to take bold steps and face challenges. It suggests that courage and daring are prerequisites for deserving success, highlighting the relationship between effort, risk, and achievement in life.

Themes

DareSuccessRiskGreatnessCourage

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can inspire students during a graduation speech about pursuing their dreams.

More from Washington Irving

There rise authors now and then, who seem proof against the mutability of language, because they have rooted themselves in the unchanging principles of human nature.
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There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.
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Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart.
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The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your misfortunes.
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If I can, by a lucky chance, in these uneasy days, rub out one wrinkle from the brow of care, or beguile the heavy heart of one moment of sadness; if I can, how and then, prompt a happier view of human nature, and make my reader more in good humor with his fellow-beings and himself, surely, I shall not have written in vain.
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