What is your favorite quote about taking risks?

Question

From "If the Wind Will Not Serve, Take to the Oars" to "Imperfect Action is Better Than Perfect Inaction", here are 20 answers to the question, "What is your favorite quote about taking risks?"

Loren Howard · Answer

If the wind will not serve, take to the oars. I think this is a great quote for risk-takers because it is about taking matters into your own hands. No matter the outcome, good or bad, you will never know unless you try, and by making destiny for yourself instead of waiting for the right time can make a huge difference in your success, but you have to take that risk!"

Joe Flanagan · Answer

I'm an avid guitar player and I enjoy listening to jazz. So it's only fitting that Miles Davis' quote, "I'll play it first and tell you what it is later," sums up risk-taking in giving it a go when creating art and how that transcends to our day-to-day life. Sometimes it's better to do something without overthinking it.

Rachel Roff · Answer

Don't fear mistakes; there are none." This quote is attributed to Miles Davis. I find it so powerful because fear of making a mistake is part of what makes something a risk. If there were only rewards, it wouldn't be a risk at all. But what Davis is implying here is that everything you do offers a chance to learn from it and develop. There are no real mistakes if every failure is viewed as an opportunity.

Karim Hachem · Answer

Knowing your threshold for risks depends on your personal pace. Author Kangoma Kindembo writes, "Your foot size cannot determine the pace of your steps; you have the key to that." Choosing the best one for yourself will help guide your risk-taking. Maybe you like to forge ahead at a fast pace, possibly making more mistakes. Or maybe slowly is your style with less? Finding your personal pace, and the risks that may happen because of it, is key to discovering your threshold for them."

Georgi Todorov · Answer

"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." - William G.T. Shedd We can stay in the safe and dodge any risks that might change the status quo, but is this what life is about? Taking risks lies at the heart of making changes, and nothing in life stays the same.

Faizan Fahim · Answer

One of my favorite quotes about risk is from J.K. Rowling: "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all-in which case, you fail by default." I appreciate this quote because it encourages one to embrace failure instead of solely focusing on success. While many risks are taken with the aim of achieving victory, it is important to remember that it is okay to take a risk and not come out on top. Winning is not the only goal; taking risks, venturing into the unknown, and experiencing new adventures are also valuable pursuits.

Bhante Thi-O · Answer

Having read Robert Kiyosaki's book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, this quote "The biggest risk a person can take is to do nothing" has to be the one quote about taking risks that I resonate with most deeply among other quotes. This quote means that when you do nothing, you risk the chance of achieving success, because you will never know the outcome of the situation and will continue to live in the what-if moments since you choose inaction. However, when you decide to act and decide to take risks, you stand better chances of heading towards success as compared to staying stagnant at a spot and not doing anything to reach for what you want to achieve in life. We often wish to gain or achieve something without doing anything or spending any effort and time, but reality doesn't work this way. There must be Something for Something - you cannot expect to get Something out of Nothing, which is why I strongly believe and agree with Kiyosaki's quote.

Joel Polanco · Answer

Bruce Arians, or "BA" for short, was the former NFL head coach for the Arizona Cardinals and led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win. BA was known for his swagger. So what did BA say about risk and how did he lead his team to a Super Bowl win? "No risk it, no biscuit." It's pretty self-explanatory. If you don't take a risk, you won't walk away with a reward. So venture into the unknown and do it with some swagger like BA would.

Ashley Schuering · Answer

I think the quote, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal" really sums it up as an entrepreneur. Success is a moving goalpost Once you hit your target (whatever it is), it's important to keep looking forward - what is the next thing you want to do to level up? It will look different to everyone, but keep striving for improvement. And failure is just part of being human. You're not going to do everything 100% right 100% of the time. Lean in and embrace the failures, but reframe them as "learning opportunities." Your ego might be bruised, your self-confidence might take a hit, but at the end of the day, you're still in the game.

Joel Libava · Answer

The thing about taking risks is, if it's really a risk, you can really fail. It's only a pretend risk if you can't fail. - Connie Britton The reason I love this one has to do with the industry I'm in; Franchising. That's because there's a false belief that owning a franchise business is less risky than starting an independent business. My job is to teach great franchise research techniques to folks who want to buy a franchise so they can be their own boss. Because doing great research can lower your risk. And yes-it can be risky to buy a franchise. The risk is real.

Guy Sharp · Answer

"If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat! Just get on. In the corporate world, it's crucial to say yes to the opportunities that come your way, even though you may feel out of your depth. When you can trust yourself to say yes and rise to the occasion, you're likely to grow in more ways than one. This quote reminds me of just that and helps me step up to the plate instead of shying away from opportunities.

Brad Cummins · Answer

Here is a quote about taking risks that I like: "The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle." - Steve Jobs This quote highlights the importance of finding and pursuing your passions, and not settling for less. Taking risks and stepping outside of your comfort zone can be necessary in order to achieve your goals and find fulfillment in your work and personal life."

Ashley Dejesus · Answer

"If you dare nothing, then when the day is over, nothing is all you will have gained." Neil Gaiman says it like it is and presents you with the choice to take action that keeps you where you are or takes you forward. This simple thought always encourages me to dare to get out of my comfort zone and dream a little bigger. It always works to get me out of a funk and refocus my energy on what truly matters.

Elton Cage · Answer

My favorite quote about taking risks is by Mark Twain: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." This quote speaks to me because it emphasizes the importance of taking risks and embracing the unknown. It reminds me to be courageous and to not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone, because life is too short to not take chances. It also encourages me to try new things and to take calculated risks that could lead to exciting opportunities and new experiences.

Cara Quinn · Answer

"You cannot swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore." - William Faulkner When I was preparing to leave my corporate 9-5 position to start my own business, I often faced waves of indecision and panic, wondering if I was doing the right thing. One day I stumbled across this quote and everything clicked into place. It gave me a much needed confidence boost and strengthened my resolve to move forward. Sometimes the things we want can only be obtained after facing our fears and taking a leap of faith. For me, the potential pain and regret of never trying far outweighed the risk of not succeeding. A year later, my business is going from strength to strength and I can honestly say it was the best risk I ever took.

Linda Baker · Answer

What does your default brain or mindset think about new opportunities, projects, or situations? I keep this quote in my office and on my refrigerator because it resonates with me in such a big way: "Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being excited about what could go right."

Ben Schwencke · Answer

I believe this quote exemplifies the most important aspect of risk taking: opportunity cost. The risk-averse rarely consider the negative implications of inaction, which can be more dangerous or costly than wrong actions. By saying "Yes," you open the door to many more potential opportunities, whereas a "No" removes you from the conversation When offering career development advice, I always advise people to be bold. Rarely is remaining in one's comfort zone conducive to personal growth; instead, it often leads to stagnation and indifference. By taking the initial risk and leaving your comfort zone, you open yourself to a world of possibility, leading to exponential personal growth.

Lisa White · Answer

I'm known as "safety patrol" in my family-always reminding people to be careful and to offer a wet wipe or squirt of hand sanitizer to get rid of germs. Taking risks just isn't my thing. For example, for the longest time I had a huge fear of flying because there was a chance that the plane could crash. I even skipped an all-expense-paid trip to Rome (which still mad at myself about). I was waiting until I wasn't afraid anymore to step onto a plane. Finally, I had a revelation: there may never be a time when I don't feel fearful about flying. But that doesn't mean I can't do it-even if scared. So the quote that has changed my life is "Feel the fear and do it anyway." We don't have to wait until we're comfortable with the idea of doing something in order to do it. We just have to decide that we won't let fear dictate how we live our lives. Do I love flying now? Absolutely not. Do I feel scared every time I do it? Absolutely. The difference: I don't let that stop me.

Jeanel Alvarado · Answer

"And so, if you believe on that first day while you're writing the business plan that there's a 70% chance that the whole thing will fail, and you know, then that kind of relieves the pressure of self-doubt. I mean, it's sort of like I don't have any doubt about whether we're going to fail; that's the likely outcome. And it just is, and to pretend that it's not will lead you to do strange and, you know, unnatural things." - Jeff Bezos I love this quote from Jeff Bezos . As an entrepreneur, it can be hard to start when you have a fear of failure, and as you continue to build, you may be scared to take risks, as you know the odds of choosing wrong are high. But if you accept it from the beginning and are okay with the outcome, it's easier to be innovative and take calculated risks.

Doug Greene · Answer

This quote is written all over my office to gently remind me that opportunity never presents itself as fully-baked or perfect in any way. It shows up as risk. I believe that taking action, even when you can't see the other side or be sure that you won't fail, is a critical element of success. Many people shy away from risk, but you need to embrace and leverage it for your own development.

20 Quotes About Taking Risks