The secret of success is constancy to purpose

I think would have to agree in a way with the quote, "when we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too," in some ways. Watching the world burn and not attempting to put out the flames can rip apart a person's view of themself. There have been several occasions where I have stayed silent over public issues, generally because of not feeling I could properly articulate what it was I wanted to express. If a person speaks out they may not always know exactly what to say, how to say it, or how others will react to it, but I feel as though there are times where a person should just throw themself out there and at try to push towards expressing their feelings and opinions.

When a person speaks their opinion I believe they should exercist caution and openness, though caution may not be the word best-suited for what I mean. They should take care to not come across as disregarding the opinions of others, lest they push others away and make them feel unwilling to listen or be open to your opinion for coming across as hostile towards their own.

In "shrinking from the world" a person avoids derision and conflict that may come from speaking their mind, but closing oneself from the world can harm said person and denies everyone else of addition input or assistance. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do," (Mark Twain).