Alberto Santos-Dumont

“For the moment I was sure that I was in the presence of death. Well, I will tell it frankly, my sentiment was almost entirely that of waiting and expectation."What is coming next?" I thought. "What am I going to see and know in a few minutes? Whom shall I see after I am dead?"The thought that I should be meeting my father in a few minutes thrilled me. Indeed, I think that in such moments there is no room either for regret or terror. The mind is too full of looking forward. One is frightened only so long as one still has a chance."”

“How often have things been proved to me impossible! Now I am used to it I expect it. But in those days it troubled me. Still I persevered.”