Gary Paulsen Quotes

Choose a challenge instead of competence

What matters is not how well you can avoid trouble, but how you cope with trouble when it comes.

When there are things that don't go according to plan, London will cope.

You need to be ready to bat, whatever you are given; you have to take what is thrown at you.

It's so important to be ready for whatever is going to be thrown at you.

Not everything is going to go exactly as you plan. It's what you do when everything breaks down.

What really matters is not whether we have problems, but how we go through them. We must keep going on to make it through whatever we are facing.

Let's face it, life is a constant challenge. It's full of unexpected detours that no one but you can navigate.

I always expect unexpected challenges.

There are two ways of meeting difficulties: you alter the difficulties or you alter yourself meeting them.

For all your days be prepared, and meet them ever alike. When you are the anvil, bear - when you are the hammer, strike.

I mean, the things you think will never happen, you have to confront; those things that come into your life that you thought you never could deal with, you do.

Sometimes if you want to achieve something great, there will be curveballs. You just have to dodge them every once in a while.

Frankly, I guess, I don't really understand why people, why so many people, are so risk averse. You know, there's always ways to wiggle your way out of any situation if you're motivated enough.

We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.

Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable.

I think that if you live long enough, you realize that so much of what happens in life is out of your control, but how you respond to it is in your control. That's what I try to remember.

Adaptability is a great asset to have because life is so unpredictable, and things can change overnight for any of us.

Sometimes it's good to be ready for the unpredictable. I'm glad that I can go through unpredictable situations. It's a good thing.

I think, as an outsider, you are ready to deal with whatever comes your way.

There's going to be ups, there's going to be downs and you're going to have to roll with the punches.

Every time I thought I've seen every possible scenario, something else comes up. You just have to be prepared at every level.

If you take control over those things you can, you are better able to negotiate the unexpected.

You need to be ready for all situations.

If anybody knows that you need to be prepared regardless of the situation, that's me.