Thomas Bernhard Quotes

Bravery and adventure! That's the ticket! Don't sit and gather moss. Get up, get out, do what you dream of doing, and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work, and you don't need to made that particular mistake again, but at least you won't get old wondering what if you had.

I'm of the mind that life is a risk, every time you leave your house it's a risk, and I see no reason to go through life with my hands tied behind my back for any reason. I'd be foolish to let something stop me from doing what I love to do.

Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death.

Once men are caught up in an event, they cease to be afraid. Only the unknown frightens men.

If something excites you, go for it.

I understand it's great to read a great book, but it's better to live your life. It just helps me. It's uncomfortable at times, but you have to live outside the circle.

I fear not living fully.

I am not an adventurer or a writer, I am a person who thinks life is too short and if there is something you fancy doing you should have a go and see how far you get.

I don't want things that I regret in life, and things that I have not done - and I don't want to at 80 years wake up, and tell myself: 'Oh I was on top of my shape and skills and I didn't do it.'

You can only die once, so do not die a thousand times worrying about it.

… the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

You don't want to leave 'what if's in life.

I'd tell my 20-year-old self, 'Don't be afraid to do it all. Whatever you're interested in, just go for it. Don't wait around for a better time.'

Isn't it about getting out of your comfort zone and getting off the couch and challenging yourself and forcing yourself to do things you wouldn't other do? Otherwise, what are you living for?

You don't get happy by sitting around going on, 'Oh this is a horrible situation, what to do?' You've got to find the courage to change that. I think change is extremely hard for people.

'Don't worry about it, and you'll be great,' said nobody, ever.

Being brave isn't the absence of fear. Being brave is having that fear but finding a way through it.

You have to try things! You have to jump off the edge and run through your fear.

The brain aneurysm I had in 2006 put things into perspective. It made me understand what was really important - to enjoy life, take more risks and stop putting things off.

You cannot hide yourself from any situation.

You can die at any moment doing anything. I mean, so why not do what you love to do. If I die on game day, have a drink. Celebrate.

If you don't take a risk, you will not be satisfied and happy. I think one must look at creating history.

You tend to regret the things you haven't done.

Everybody talking about being afraid of being boring is boring. You have to go for the real substance of life after awhile.

I think it's also important to show that failure is a part of the process. It can sometimes be the end goal. People are very obsessed with building useful things and I think often that also stops people from getting started.