You’ve got to jump off the cliff all the time and build your wings on the way down.

Speculative fiction author Ray Bradbury blended the sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and mystery genres to craft stories about alien worlds, dystopian futures, and fantastical coming-of-age journeys. The author was fond of this exhilarating metaphor, using it often in speeches and interviews to emphasize his belief in the endless possibilities of the imagination. His words serve as an emphatic directive to stretch our minds, follow our hearts, and be willing to take a leap of faith in order to achieve our goals. In a 2010 interview, Bradbury was asked if his philosophy had ever failed him. He responded, “All of my life, I’ve jumped off the cliff and built my wings. It works every single time. It never fails.”