Quote Of The Day By Robert Plant: 'Don't Be Hard On Yourself...'

Born in 1948 in West Bromwich, England, Robert Plant carried magic inside of him. Possessing an insatiable love for the blues and music, his voice found its kin when Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones saw him sing. With the addition of drummer John Bonham to the fold, they formed Led Zeppelin — one of the most important rock bands of the 1970s.

Plant established himself as a new archetype for rock 'n' roll vocalists: mysterious, alluring, and brilliant. He and Led Zeppelin dominated their era, becoming one of the most celebrated groups of all time and producing timeless classics like "Stairway to Heaven," "Immigrant Song," and "Whole Lotta Love." However, they only lasted 12 years, becoming one of the bands that broke up because a member died — in this case, it was Bonham.

Despite the temptation (and money — lots of money) to reform on a permanent basis, Plant and Led Zeppelin stuck to their guns, only reuniting for the odd gig and affording each other the space to pursue their own musical interests. Plant did just that, building a formidable solo career for himself and following his heart-led path. He's a risk-taker and a firm believer in being the master of one's own destiny, and that's why Plant is today's quote of the day.

"Don't be hard on yourself. And take as many chances, risks, as you can." 

In a 2011 interview with GQ, Robert Plant revealed that this is the advice he would share with his 25-year-old self if he had the opportunity to go back in time. The singer explained how he would have encouraged the younger Plant to step out of his comfort zone as a vocalist and attempt the unexpected.

The words of wisdom aren't as much about regret as they are a reminder that life is short, and it's best to do whatever makes your heart sing and makes your soul feel alive.

There's no hidden meaning to Robert Plant's quote. It's right to the point and expresses something that most people who have experienced life tell the younger generations.

For Plant, it's easy to see how he might have been tough on himself at the age of 25. After all, he was in Led Zeppelin at the time. The pressure must have been suffocating, especially with the weight of expectation from the audience and music business. Every failure was magnified, while every success was compared to what came before it. For Plant, he must have been living the adage, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown."

Even so, his quote is a wake-up call to see the bigger picture and to be kind to yourself at every turn. Too often, we're stuck in the now, as we fret over every bad decision and become afraid to roll the dice in life. However, life and its problems are only temporary. Nobody is getting out of here alive, so it's best to love, laugh, and live a little. You only get one life, so live it with both warmth and fearlessness.

• "The worst thing in the world for me would be to find extraordinary and always live in that particular moment."
• "I was playing the game. And I made a great escape. I really got out of the way."
• "Some people are completely trapped in their achievements, and that must be real hell."
• "There's no real boundary to where we can and cannot go."
• "If I stop and brood, which is a very bad thing to do, then time moves with a lead weight around it."
• "I never really knew where I wanted to end up."
• "This combination of spirit and humor is my life's blood."
• "All deaths before senility are senseless."