--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Calculated risks are part of what you do…" description: "\"Calculated risks are part of what you do, but the idea that something completely crazy will work just because it's completely crazy is completely crazy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/bill-walsh-8609_calculated-risk_calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do_128506.jpg" --- # Calculated risks are part of what you do, but the idea… ![“Calculated risks are part of what you do, but the idea that something completely crazy will work just because it's completely crazy is completely crazy.” quote by Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/bill-walsh-8609_calculated-risk_calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do_128506.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/bill-walsh-8609_calculated-risk_calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do_128506.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/bill-walsh-8609_calculated-risk_calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do_128506.jpg) > “Calculated risks are part of what you do, but the idea that something completely crazy will work just because it's completely crazy is completely crazy.” [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calculated risks are normal, but believing crazy ideas work just because they’re crazy is irrational. **In simple terms:** Risk must be measured, not blind. Key Takeaway Avoid reckless belief in absurdity. Themes risk management strategy innovation Mood cautious analytical Type business motivational When to use this quote - business ventures - product development - entrepreneurship Key Concepts decision theory creativity Practical Applications - evaluate ideas with data before acting Questions to Reflect On - What risk seems crazy but plausible? - How do you test wild ideas? A Different Perspective Blind faith in chaos can cause failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calculated risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculated-risk/) [Calculated Risks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculated-risks-633968/) [Completely Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completely-crazy-1480185/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Crazy Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-completely-1480186/) [Crazy Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-work-623427/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risks Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risks-idea-1480184/) ## Related quotes > [“Without reading, I would go crazy - completely crazy. My Kindle had become my savior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/without-reading-i-would-go-crazy-completely-crazy-my-kindle-had/) [Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/) > [Research is a way of taking calculated risks to bring about incalculable consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-green/research-is-a-way-of-taking-calculated-risks-to-bring-about/) [Celia Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-green/) > [Take calculated risks. Act boldly and thoughtfully. Be an agile company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/take-calculated-risks-act-boldly-and-thoughtfully-be-an-agile-company/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [Take calculated risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/take-calculated-risks/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [To put money into anything, anywhere, provided that the downside is measurable and acceptable and the chances of a good profit appear to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/to-put-money-into-anything-anywhere-provided-that-the-downside-is/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [You have to take calculated risks in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/you-have-to-take-calculated-risks-in-life/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [An artist should be taking risks. That's the whole idea of being an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jr/an-artist-should-be-taking-risks-that-s-the-whole-idea-of-being-an/) [JR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jr/) > [I can do what I want, when I want. I want to go to this place, I pick up and go. It's nice. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/i-can-do-what-i-want-when-i-want-i-want-to-go-to-this-place-i-pick-up/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [It's so crazy to work with Ryan Murphy and then work in the David Fincher world with Robin Wright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/it-s-so-crazy-to-work-with-ryan-murphy-and-then-work-in-the-david/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [I have a pretty crazy work ethic, most people around me think it's a little off the charts, like I'm always working on something.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-lewis/i-have-a-pretty-crazy-work-ethic-most-people-around-me-think-it-s-a/) [Eliot Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-lewis/) > [I have a crazy work schedule, I don't eat good food, and I often work through nights, but I am just doing what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atif-aslam/i-have-a-crazy-work-schedule-i-don-t-eat-good-food-and-i-often-work/) [Atif Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atif-aslam/) > [The most successful people in the world are the ones who thought of that idea that was 'too crazy to work.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-carter/the-most-successful-people-in-the-world-are-the-ones-who-thought-of/) [Troy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-carter/) > [I'm not patient, and some things drive me crazy. In my work, I get incredibly upset when people don't get it right or don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/i-m-not-patient-and-some-things-drive-me-crazy-in-my-work-i-get/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [We have a mantra at the Big Machine Label Group: Start with crazy and work backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/we-have-a-mantra-at-the-big-machine-label-group-start-with-crazy-and/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) > [Things are rarely just crazy enough to work, but they're frequently just crazy enough to fail hilariously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/things-are-rarely-just-crazy-enough-to-work-but-they-re-frequently/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) ## More by Bill Walsh > [Instilling the right culture almost always takes time. And inevitably there will be some who balk against your standards. But, you must have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/instilling-the-right-culture-almost-always-takes-time-and-inevitably/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [A harsh reality of newspaper editing is that the deadlines don't allow for the polish that you expect in books or even magazines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/a-harsh-reality-of-newspaper-editing-is-that-the-deadlines-don-t/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [All successful leaders know where we want to go, figure out a way we believe will get the organization there, and then move forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/all-successful-leaders-know-where-we-want-to-go-figure-out-a-way-we/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [The ability to help the people around me self-actualize their goals underlines the single aspect of my abilities and the label that I value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/the-ability-to-help-the-people-around-me-self-actualize-their-goals/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [The running game in pro football has gotten so boring. There's just four or five plays they can run. I think the whole thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/the-running-game-in-pro-football-has-gotten-so-boring-there-s-just/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Everybody isn't everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/everybody-isn-t-everybody/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [You can only succeed when people are communicating, not just from the top down, but in complete interchange. Communication comes from fighting off my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/you-can-only-succeed-when-people-are-communicating-not-just-from-the/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Your enthusiasm becomes their enthusiasm; your lukewarm presentation becomes their lukewarm interest in what you're offering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/your-enthusiasm-becomes-their-enthusiasm-your-lukewarm-presentation/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Victory is produced by and belongs to all. Winning a Super Bowl results from you whole team not only doing their individual jobs but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/victory-is-produced-by-and-belongs-to-all-winning-a-super-bowl/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [One of the common traits of outstanding performers-coaches, athletes, managers, sales representatives, executives, and others who face a daily up/down, win/lose accounting system-is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/one-of-the-common-traits-of-outstanding-performers-coaches-athletes/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Consistent motivation usually comes from a consuming desire to be able to perform at your best under pressure, namely, the pressure produced by tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/consistent-motivation-usually-comes-from-a-consuming-desire-to-be/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Invest in great relationships, they will pay a lifetime of dividends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/invest-in-great-relationships-they-will-pay-a-lifetime-of-dividends/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [There is a weird phenomenon where technology seems to be getting dumber in some ways as it gets smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/there-is-a-weird-phenomenon-where-technology-seems-to-be-getting/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Concentrate on what will produce results rather than on the results, the process rather than the prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/concentrate-on-what-will-produce-results-rather-than-on-the-results/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Consistent effort is a consistent challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/consistent-effort-is-a-consistent-challenge/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) [Explore all 79 Bill Walsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) ## More Calculated risk quotes > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Strategy is born when a calculated risk meets an educated guess”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samer-chidiac/strategy-is-born-when-a-calculated-risk-meets-an-educated-guess/) [Samer Chidiac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samer-chidiac/) > [Between calculated risk and reckless decision-making lies the dividing line between profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/between-calculated-risk-and-reckless-decision-making-lies-the/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [There is a thin line between peace of the brave and peace of the hostage... between compromise - even calculated risk - and irresponsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/there-is-a-thin-line-between-peace-of-the-brave-and-peace-of-the/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [For me... it was always about the challenge of making this voyage... It was always a calculated risk, but life is a risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-watson/for-me-it-was-always-about-the-challenge-of-making-this-voyage-it-was/) [Jessica Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-watson/) > [Research is a way of taking calculated risks to bring about incalculable consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-green/research-is-a-way-of-taking-calculated-risks-to-bring-about/) [Celia Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-green/) > [We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/we-must-have-courage-to-bet-on-our-ideas-to-take-the-calculated-risk/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [We are ready to compromise. We are ready to take calculated risks, but for a peace that will give us security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/we-are-ready-to-compromise-we-are-ready-to-take-calculated-risks-but/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [Generally, it's a very calculated risk when it comes to making a film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackky-bhagnani/generally-it-s-a-very-calculated-risk-when-it-comes-to-making-a-film/) [Jackky Bhagnani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackky-bhagnani/) > [Intuition, if you are fashion designer is really the key to everything. I just really have a feeling it's the right moment in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monita-rajpal/intuition-if-you-are-fashion-designer-is-really-the-key-to-everything/) [Monita Rajpal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monita-rajpal/) > [Often the difference between a successful man and a failure is not one's better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/often-the-difference-between-a-successful-man-and-a-failure-is-not/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [I had discovered long ago the first lesson of political courage: to think anew. I had then learned the second: to be prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-had-discovered-long-ago-the-first-lesson-of-political-courage-to/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [“a logical man must behave in a crisis as if his calculated risk were indeed a certainty …”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-patterson-jr/a-logical-man-must-behave-in-a-crisis-as-if-his-calculated-risk-were/) [William H. Patterson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-patterson-jr/) > [“I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon—if I can. I seek opportunity—not security. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-alfange/i-do-not-choose-to-be-a-common-man-it-is-my-right-to-be-uncommon-if-i/) [Dean Alfange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-alfange/) > [I think there's a difference between a gamble and a calculated risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-h-north/i-think-there-s-a-difference-between-a-gamble-and-a-calculated-risk/) [Edmund H. North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-h-north/) [Browse all 50 Calculated risk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculated-risk/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Calculated risks are part of what you do, but the idea that something completely crazy will work just because it's completely crazy is completely crazy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Walsh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do-but-the-idea-that-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calculated risk" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do-but-the-idea-that-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/bill-walsh-8609_calculated-risk_calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do_128506.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/bill-walsh-8609_calculated-risk_calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do_128506.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/bill-walsh-8609_calculated-risk_calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do_128506.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Calculated risks are part of what you do, but the idea that something completely crazy will work just…” — Bill Walsh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bill Walsh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Calculated risks are part of what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do-but-the-idea-that-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/calculated-risks-are-part-of-what-you-do-but-the-idea-that-something/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```