Odds

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
- Ecclesiastes 9:11

Necessity is the mother of taking chances.
- Mark Twain, 1835 - 1910

Never let the odds keep you from pursuing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.
- Leroy "Satchel" Paige, 1906 - 1982

The task is overwhelming, and the chance is slight. We must take the chance or die.
- Robert Maynard Hutchins, 1899 - 1977

To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late;
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods?
- Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay, 1800 - 1859