“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back — concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.“

~ often attributed to Goethe,

but as you’ll see in the comments, it’s not his passage.

According to German.about.com, it’s the work of William Hutchinson Murray, from his 1951 book The Scottish Himalayan Expedition.

The Goethe Society has a piece by Meredith Lee, digging in on the history of the quote, which says,  “it’s been found and it is partly by Goethe, in a way.”

I will leave debate about who did or didn’t write it to scholars who know more than I do. Instead, I’ll simply express my gratitude to whoever wrote these motivational words.