--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I told them, you can succeed - it's not…" description: "\"I told them, you can succeed - it's not likely the first time, maybe 25 per cent, but you CAN succeed. You can also die. By April 16 they had already b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/anatoli-boukreev-21662_ahead_i-told-them-you-can-succeed-it-s-not-lik_664837.jpg" --- # I told them, you can succeed - it's not likely the first… ![“I told them, you can succeed - it's not likely the first time, maybe 25 per cent, but you CAN succeed. You can also die. By April 16 they had already been to camp III, well ahead of most teams.” quote by Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/anatoli-boukreev-21662_ahead_i-told-them-you-can-succeed-it-s-not-lik_664837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/anatoli-boukreev-21662_ahead_i-told-them-you-can-succeed-it-s-not-lik_664837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/anatoli-boukreev-21662_ahead_i-told-them-you-can-succeed-it-s-not-lik_664837.jpg) > “I told them, you can succeed - it's not likely the first time, maybe 25 per cent, but you CAN succeed. You can also die. By April 16 they had already been to camp III, well ahead of most teams.” [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is possible despite low odds, but risk and mortality are inherent in high-stakes endeavors. **In simple terms:** You can succeed even with slim chances, but danger exists. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges while respecting risk. Themes risk perseverance mountaineering success Mood determined cautious inspirational Type adventurous motivational When to use this quote - expeditions - team training - goal setting - risk management Key Concepts probability human resilience danger assessment Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you when odds are low? - How do you balance ambition with safety? A Different Perspective May underestimate the emotional toll of near-failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/) [Ahead Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-teams-5291388/) [April](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/april/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Succeed Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed-die-2662759/) [Succeed Likely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed-likely-5291387/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Told Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-succeed-4196460/) ## Related quotes > [“I had a boyfriend who told me I’d never succeed, never be nominated for a Grammy, never have a hit song, and that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-had-a-boyfriend-who-told-me-i-d-never-succeed-never-be-nominated/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“I’m going to keep going until I succeed — or I die. 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Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [If you want to succeed, die in what you do. The life of death will live in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/if-you-want-to-succeed-die-in-what-you-do-the-life-of-death-will-live/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [The air is like a butterfly With frail blue wings. The happy earth looks at the sky And sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/the-air-is-like-a-butterfly-with-frail-blue-wings-the-happy-earth/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [It felt like 10 years, but I was actually in treatment for three-and-a-half years. I finally finished in April. Two years ago, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/it-felt-like-10-years-but-i-was-actually-in-treatment-for-three-and-a/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/here-cometh-april-again-and-as-far-as-i-can-see-the-world-hath-more/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Our opponents see an America in which every day is April 15, tax day. Well, we see an America in which every day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-opponents-see-an-america-in-which-every-day-is-april-15-tax-day/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/the-air-soft-as-that-of-seville-in-april-and-so-fragrant-that-it-was/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Why should I deem myself to be a chisel, when I could be the artist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/why-should-i-deem-myself-to-be-a-chisel-when-i-could-be-the-artist/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [It might interest you that just as the U.S. was ramping up its involvement in Vietnam, LBJ launched an illegal invasion of the Dominican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-might-interest-you-that-just-as-the-u-s-was-ramping-up-its/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“I had a chat with May and I had a sweet talk with April but the lovely conversation that left me to ponder was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/i-had-a-chat-with-may-and-i-had-a-sweet-talk-with-april-but-the/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) ## More by Anatoli Boukreev > [There are many questions, but I cannot answer because I'm not a businessman, I am a climber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/there-are-many-questions-but-i-cannot-answer-because-i-m-not-a/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [A review of summit day photographs will show that I was clothed in the latest, highest quality, high altitude gear, comparable, if not better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/a-review-of-summit-day-photographs-will-show-that-i-was-clothed-in/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [What we can do now is contribute to a clearer understanding of what happened that day on Everest in the hope that the lessons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/what-we-can-do-now-is-contribute-to-a-clearer-understanding-of-what/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [Mountains have the power to call us into their realms and there, left forever, are our friends whose great souls were longing for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/mountains-have-the-power-to-call-us-into-their-realms-and-there-left/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [I travel to Jakarta, I see what an important country it is. I've been working with them for a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/i-travel-to-jakarta-i-see-what-an-important-country-it-is-i-ve-been/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [I offer my expertise and experience for hire in order to help a group of people reach the summit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/i-offer-my-expertise-and-experience-for-hire-in-order-to-help-a-group/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [Honestly, I do not experience fear in the mountains. On the contraryI feel my shoulders straightening, squaring, like the birds as they straighten their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/honestly-i-do-not-experience-fear-in-the-mountains-on-the-contraryi/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [Climbing is what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/climbing-is-what-i-do/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [I am not sure the others are as committed as Rob Hall and Scott Fischer. I think there is more business now, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/i-am-not-sure-the-others-are-as-committed-as-rob-hall-and-scott/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [I explained I wanted to descend as quickly as possible to camp IV in order to warm myself and gather a supply of hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/i-explained-i-wanted-to-descend-as-quickly-as-possible-to-camp-iv-in/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [I respect Everest very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/i-respect-everest-very-much/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [Big mountains are a completely different world: snow, ice, rocks, sky, and thin air. You cannot conquer them, only rise to their height for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/big-mountains-are-a-completely-different-world-snow-ice-rocks-sky-and/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [Mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/mountains-are-not-stadiums-where-i-satisfy-my-ambition-to-achieve/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [I want this book to be facts, to be important, to be history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/i-want-this-book-to-be-facts-to-be-important-to-be-history/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [I don't know what being an Everest guide means. I am a coach, not a guide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/i-don-t-know-what-being-an-everest-guide-means-i-am-a-coach-not-a/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) [Explore all 28 Anatoli Boukreev quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) ## More Ahead quotes > [Anybody who thinks that they should lead the country should go ahead and put their hat in the ring. I am not among them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/anybody-who-thinks-that-they-should-lead-the-country-should-go-ahead/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [If I have a problem with somebody, I go ahead and say what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-hulkenberg/if-i-have-a-problem-with-somebody-i-go-ahead-and-say-what-s-on-my-mind/) [Nico Hulkenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-hulkenberg/) > [I once invested in a risky business. Quite a few people warned me not to do so, but I still went ahead and invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/i-once-invested-in-a-risky-business-quite-a-few-people-warned-me-not/) [Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/) > [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/) [Stephen R. 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I sing free of cost for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-am-not-interested-to-sing-in-bollywood-i-sing-for-only-those-actors/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) [Browse all 1,773 Ahead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I told them, you can succeed - it's not likely the first time, maybe 25 per cent, but you CAN succeed. You can also die. 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