One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight, for a very long time, of the shore.

Source: Gide, André. Les faux-monnayeurs. Nouvelle Revue Française, 1925. Print. Additional Information: This quote is from Gide's 1925 novel Les faux-monnayeurs [The Counterfeiters]. The quote means that in order to accomplish anything great, such as making a new discovery or finding out what you want to do with your life, you must leave behind the safety and familiarity of your current life. It is often misquoted as "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." The quote also often incorrectly attributed to Christopher Columbus. Variations: "You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore." — Often attributed to William Faulkner.