Today is the 156th birthday of Fridtjof Nansen, an amazing Norwegian explorer, naturalist, author and humanitarian. My curiosity sparked by a Google Doodle celebrating his birthday, I explored further and came up with some timely words of his to inspire us all:

“The first great thing is to find yourself and for that you need solitude and contemplation — at least sometimes. I can tell yo deliverance will not come from the rushing, noisy centers of civilization, it will come from the lonely places.”

“Never stop because you are afraid — you are never so likely to be wrong. Never keep a line of retreat — it is a wretched invention. The difficult is what takes a little time; the impossible is what takes a little longer.”

“Love is life-s snow. It falls deepest and softest into the gashes left by the fight — whiter and purer than snow itself.”

“Happiness s a struggle towards a summit, and, when it is attained, it is happiness to glimpse new summits on the other side.”

“Is it not in the struggle to obtain knowledge that happiness exists? I am very ignorant, consequently, the conditions of happiness are mine.”

“The history of the human race is a continual struggle from darknes sinto light. It is, therefore, to no purpose to discuss the use of knowledge ; man wants to know, and when he ceases to do so, is no longer a man.”

“I demolish my bridges behind me — there is no choice but forward.”

“Have you not succeeded? Continue! Have you succeeded? Continue!”

Inspired and emboldened by these words, let’s all write on!