Quote is from the preface to the 1983 book ‘Seamanship’.
The painting is ‘Storm at Sea’ by Willem van de Velde the Younger.
Sailing philosophy that applies equally to flying, and just maybe, life.
Quotes
The two attributes needed to make a seaman
“I think that the two important attributes needed to make a seaman are, first, that he should perform all his actions at the right speed (many people fail through trying to do things too fast) and, second, that he should be the master (rather than the slave) of every piece of equipment on board his yacht.”
~ Peter Kemp, ex Royal Navy, ex The Times of London, author/editor of 20 books on sailing. One long sentence in the second-to-last paragraph of his 1983 book ‘Seamanship’. It applies equally well to pilots, of both sexes.
Right speed, not too fast.
Master, not slave, of every piece of equipment.
The very last sentence is good stuff as well:
“In a way a voyage is a work of art. True, there is nothing left when it is over as there is when an artist has completed a painting, sculpture or piece of architecture. Nevertheless, the seaman too is an artist in his own right, and if his work is successful it will live on into posterity through the happy memories of all who shared it.”
Serena Williams on enjoying the journey
All I want is to have fun in what I’m doing every day. I don’t want to break records.
Serena Williams, who has broken many records while enjoying her journey.
Picabo Street on potential, limits and courage
To uncover your true potential, you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.
Picabo Street, Olympic gold medalist and World Cup alpine skier.
I like that she says courage. Because this is tough, serious, hard work. Worthwhile yes, but it’s a lot more work than many motivational quotes make it seem.
Chris Sharma on enjoying the journey
“If you’re only happy when you’re at the summit, you’re not going to be happy very often.”
Chris Sharma, extreme climber. Quoted in The Red Bulletin, Aug 2015.