“You must not fall. / When you lose your balance, resist for a long time before turning yourself toward the earth. Then jump. / You must not force yourself to stay steady. You must move forward.”
In this quote by Philippe Petit, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not giving up when faced with challenges. The metaphor of losing balance symbolizes struggles and obstacles in life, while resisting the fall suggests perseverance and determination. By encouraging the reader to resist and then jump towards the earth, Petit is advocating for taking risks and embracing change. The idea of not forcing oneself to stay steady but to move forward suggests the importance of pushing oneself out of their comfort zone in order to grow and progress. Overall, this quote serves as a motivational reminder to keep moving forward despite difficulties.
“It cannot be done all at once. To overpower vertigo - the keeper of the abyss- one must tame it, cautiously.”
“The essential thing is to etch movements in the sky, movements so still they leave no trace. The essential thing is simplicity. / That is why the long path to perfection is horizontal.”
“When the towers again twin-tickle the clouds, I offer to walk again, to be the expression of the builder's collective voice. Together, we will rejoice in an aerial song of victory. I will carry my life across the wire, as your life, as all our lives, past, present, and future -the lives lost, the lives welcomed since.we can overcome.”
“When I see three oranges, I juggle; when I see two towers, I walk!”
“I know it's impossible. But I know I'll do it!”
“On one side, the mass of a mountain. A life I know.On the other, the universe of the clouds, so full of unknown that it seems empty to us. Too much space.”