This insightful observation springs from the diaries of Anaïs Nin, a French-born Cuban American writer whose deeply personal, often erotic writing certainly required a healthy dose of courage. In the June 1941 entry where she wrote these words, she reflects on two different kinds of bravery: the ability to be emotionally open and feel deeply for others, and the courage to hope for a better world amid the horrors of war. But her words ring true in any life circumstances. If you’re willing to face what scares you, it will broaden your world. Those risks are not easy to take, but the reward is a fuller, richer, and more vibrant life.

This oft-quoted statement comes from “The Notebook of Elbert Hubbard,” a collection of musings, short essays, and nuggets of wisdom from the eponymous writer, artist, and socialist philosopher that was published in 1927. The quote stands alone in the text, apart from any paragraph — a single thought about the fuel for our loftiest goals. What some may describe as zeal, spirit, or resolve, Hubbard names in his own way. For each step toward a mountain-sized dream, enthusiasm is what gives us the energy to push forward.

As the first Black president of South Africa and a lifelong anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela faced more than his share of seemingly impossible challenges. Over his lifetime, he spent a total of 27 years in prison for fighting against the country’s institutionalized racial oppression. In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Prize, and was sworn in as president of South Africa only a year later. Here, he encourages us to keep pushing toward our goals, even when we are discouraged: That determination can often trigger the turning point we’ve been waiting for.