This quote appears in the ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch’s “Parallel Lives,” a collection of biographies of famous Greeks and Romans, including soldiers, statesmen, and orators. It is attributed by Plutarch to Quintus Sertorius, a Roman general who led a significant rebellion against the Roman Senate. Rallying his soldiers, Sertorius explained to them how “perseverance is more prevailing than violence,” and in time, could “overthrow and destroy the greatest powers.” 

A 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, Rumi is best remembered for his poems on love, loss, and embracing life. These words are taken from his poem “Keep Walking,” which urges the reader to consider each new day as a blank slate, with curiosity and openness. Rumi certainly followed his own advice: His life was filled with countless travels, daily pleasures including music and spending time in nature, and years of teaching. His words here encourage us not to fall back on fear: In borrowing some of his enthusiasm, we can find wonder in both the everyday moments and the exciting turning points in life.

The movies of Federico Fellini may be a far cry from what’s popular in cinemas today, but he is still regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time. The Italian filmmaker remains hugely influential, and inspired everyone from David Lynch to Tim Burton, Stanley Kubrick, Bob Dylan, and Lana Del Rey. His movies, which include the classics “La Dolce Vita” and “8½,” are often dreamlike visions that probe the very nature of memory, fantasy, and desire. Fellini’s distinctive style takes ordinary situations and overlays them with hallucinatory imagery — and any type of art that mirrors this style is often called “Felliniesque.” 

Marina Abramović is a Yugoslav-born performance artist whose work relies heavily on her own physicality and interactions with spectators. Abramović began painting as a child, but later found herself drawn to the challenges of performance art. Her best-known work includes “The Lovers” (1988), in which she and her romantic partner Ulay, a fellow artist, ended their relationship by walking from opposite ends of the Great Wall of China; and “The Artist Is Present” (2010), where she sat across a table from spectators for seven hours a day (for the piece’s three-month run) without any touching or speaking. Abramović’s art offers a channel for personal transformation, and her words here remind us not to play it safe. Change is natural, and can help us grow and flourish into our best selves.