--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...when people already know they're…" description: "\"...when people already know they're deficient, they have nothing to lose by trying.\" — Carol S. Dweck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/carol-s-dweck-3250_deficient_when-people-already-know-they-re-deficie_73400.png" --- # ...when people already know they're deficient, they have… ![“...when people already know they're deficient, they have nothing to lose by trying.” quote by Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/carol-s-dweck-3250_deficient_when-people-already-know-they-re-deficie_73400.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/carol-s-dweck-3250_deficient_when-people-already-know-they-re-deficie_73400.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/carol-s-dweck-3250_deficient_when-people-already-know-they-re-deficie_73400.png) > “...when people already know they're deficient, they have nothing to lose by trying.” [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing one's shortcomings removes fear of failure, encouraging experimentation and growth. **In simple terms:** Awareness of deficit fuels risk‑taking. Key Takeaway Self‑awareness unlocks progress. Themes growth mindset self‑efficacy risk taking learning psychology Mood determined optimistic reflective Type motivational psychological advice When to use this quote - starting a new skill - overcoming imposter syndrome - career transition - personal development Key Concepts deficiency awareness motivation behavioral change Practical Applications - coaching sessions - educational workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging weakness change your approach to challenges? - What barriers arise when you hide your deficits? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficient/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Growth mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-mindset/) [Nothing to lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing-to-lose/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“But I do know we’re deficient in some way. We are too involved in materialistic things, and they don’t satisfy us. The loving relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/but-i-do-know-we-re-deficient-in-some-way-we-are-too-involved-in/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Success is achieved and maintained by those who try, and keep trying, for there is nothing to lose by trying and a great deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone/success-is-achieved-and-maintained-by-those-who-try-and-keep-trying-2/) [W. Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/) > [You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone/you-have-everything-to-gain-and-nothing-to-lose-by-trying/) [W. Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/) > [“Learning the nuts and bolts of the company could later give you a big advantage. All of our top growth-mindset CEOs knew their companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/learning-the-nuts-and-bolts-of-the-company-could-later-give-you-a-big/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The best thing parents can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-best-thing-parents-can-do-is-to-teach-their-children-to-love/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Do you think it is possible to increase your intellectual ability? For decades, I have studied the power of this belief to become reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/do-you-think-it-is-possible-to-increase-your-intellectual-ability-for/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Choosing a partner is choosing a set of problems. There are no problem-free candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/choosing-a-partner-is-choosing-a-set-of-problems-there-are-no-problem/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Everyone is a mixture of fixed and growth mindsets. You could have a predominant growth mindset in an area, but there can still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/everyone-is-a-mixture-of-fixed-and-growth-mindsets-you-could-have-a/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [More and more research is suggesting that, far from being simply encoded in the genes, much of personality is a flexible and dynamic thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/more-and-more-research-is-suggesting-that-far-from-being-simply/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Chinese culture is already telling children to work hard. That's not growth mindset because they're working hard for the product, not for the growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/chinese-culture-is-already-telling-children-to-work-hard-that-s-not/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The whole point of marriage is to encourage your partner's development and have them encourage yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-whole-point-of-marriage-is-to-encourage-your-partner-s/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-passion-for-stretching-yourself-and-sticking-to-it-even-or/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [What can I learn from this? What will I do next time I'm in this situation?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/what-can-i-learn-from-this-what-will-i-do-next-time-i-m-in-this/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/why-seek-out-the-tried-and-true-instead-of-experiences-that-will/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [A company that cannot self-correct cannot thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/a-company-that-cannot-self-correct-cannot-thrive/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) ## More by Carol S. Dweck > [“you aren’t a failure until you start to blame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/you-aren-t-a-failure-until-you-start-to-blame/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“tune in to the messages you’re sending. Are they messages that say: You have permanent traits and I’m judging them? Or are they messages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/tune-in-to-the-messages-you-re-sending-are-they-messages-that-say-you/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [A company that cannot self-correct cannot thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/a-company-that-cannot-self-correct-cannot-thrive/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Most experts and great leaders agree that leaders are made, not born, and that they are made through their own drive for learning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/most-experts-and-great-leaders-agree-that-leaders-are-made-not-born/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“Genius is not enough; we need to get the job done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/genius-is-not-enough-we-need-to-get-the-job-done/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/why-seek-out-the-tried-and-true-instead-of-experiences-that-will/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [What can I learn from this? What will I do next time I'm in this situation?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/what-can-i-learn-from-this-what-will-i-do-next-time-i-m-in-this/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [When we praise children for their intelligence, we tell them that this is the name of the game: Look smart; don't risk making mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-we-praise-children-for-their-intelligence-we-tell-them-that-this/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [We're not saying people don't need fuel for strenuous work; they just don't need it constantly. People have many more resources at hand than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/we-re-not-saying-people-don-t-need-fuel-for-strenuous-work-they-just/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“What on earth would make someone a nonlearner? Everyone is born with an intense drive to learn. Infants stretch their skills daily. Not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/what-on-earth-would-make-someone-a-nonlearner-everyone-is-born-with/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-passion-for-stretching-yourself-and-sticking-to-it-even-or/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The whole point of marriage is to encourage your partner's development and have them encourage yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-whole-point-of-marriage-is-to-encourage-your-partner-s/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“When people with the fixed mindset opt for success over growth, what are they really trying to prove? That they’re special. Even superior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-people-with-the-fixed-mindset-opt-for-success-over-growth-what/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [I'm such an egghead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/i-m-such-an-egghead/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Maybe you don't know how to do something at work. Instead of asking the boss or seeking someone as a mentor, you might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/maybe-you-don-t-know-how-to-do-something-at-work-instead-of-asking/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) [Explore all 135 Carol S. Dweck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) ## More Deficient quotes > [“But I do know we’re deficient in some way. We are too involved in materialistic things, and they don’t satisfy us. The loving relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/but-i-do-know-we-re-deficient-in-some-way-we-are-too-involved-in/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Many black people in the UK are vitamin D deficient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/many-black-people-in-the-uk-are-vitamin-d-deficient/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Probe him and learn where his strength is abundant and where deficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/probe-him-and-learn-where-his-strength-is-abundant-and-where-deficient/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Children don't understand, when things aren't given. The single parent struggling to provide; how they sacrifice themselves, by sweeping their dreams and goals under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/children-don-t-understand-when-things-aren-t-given-the-single-parent/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“You sound like you're mentally deficient. And possibly Chinese.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-hall/you-sound-like-you-re-mentally-deficient-and-possibly-chinese/) Heidi Hall > [Any treatment of an illness that does not also minister to the human spirit is grossly deficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/any-treatment-of-an-illness-that-does-not-also-minister-to-the-human/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [Our lives are not what we deserve; they are, let us agree, in many ways deficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/our-lives-are-not-what-we-deserve-they-are-let-us-agree-in-many-ways/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“A man is deficient in understanding until he perceives that there is a whole cycle of evolution possible within himself: repeating endlessly, offering opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/a-man-is-deficient-in-understanding-until-he-perceives-that-there-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“Our dissatisfactions may be the result of failing to look properly at our lives rather than the result of anything inherently deficient about them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/our-dissatisfactions-may-be-the-result-of-failing-to-look-properly-at/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“There is only one guaranteed way to be sure if you are vitamin B12 deficient and that is to get your doctor to prescribe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-is-only-one-guaranteed-way-to-be-sure-if-you-are-vitamin-b12/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Any view of the sciences that leaves Christ out of the picture must be seen as fundamentally deficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/any-view-of-the-sciences-that-leaves-christ-out-of-the-picture-must/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [“...he is not like other children, not cruel, or savage. For this very reason he is called 'strange.' A child who is mature, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djuna-barnes/he-is-not-like-other-children-not-cruel-or-savage-for-this-very/) [Djuna Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djuna-barnes/) > [I'm concerned by a deficient technology. In other words, errors or noises. It absorbs me, and I wonder if new cultural currents could emerge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-m-concerned-by-a-deficient-technology-in-other-words-errors-or/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [“Estrogen deficient women are the walking dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-hoag-mba/estrogen-deficient-women-are-the-walking-dead/) [Marie Hoag MBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-hoag-mba/) > [Paradoxically Americans are becoming both more obese and more nutrient deficient at the same time. Obese children eating processed foods are nutrient depleted and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman/paradoxically-americans-are-becoming-both-more-obese-and-more/) [Mark Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman/) [Browse all 38 Deficient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "...when people already know they're deficient, they have nothing to lose by trying.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carol S. 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