--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're going to try, go all the way…" description: "\"If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/charles-bukowski-73_fire_if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-ot_758088.jpg" --- # If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't… ![“If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean…” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/charles-bukowski-73_fire_if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-ot_758088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/charles-bukowski-73_fire_if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-ot_758088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/charles-bukowski-73_fire_if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-ot_758088.jpg) > “If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.” [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Total commitment to a goal demands sacrifice, hardship, and isolation, but yields unparalleled fulfillment and personal triumph. **In simple terms:** Going all‑in means enduring pain for ultimate reward. Key Takeaway Commit fully, endure hardship, achieve greatness. Themes commitment hardship isolation endurance triumph Mood determined intense inspirational Type motivational philosophical reflective When to use this quote - starting a business - artistic creation - marathon training - long‑term research - personal transformation Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization psychology risk reward Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to sacrifice for your dream? - How do you balance risk with self‑care? A Different Perspective May romanticize suffering; not all risks are worth taking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flame/) [Isolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isolation/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) ## Related quotes > [“roll the dice if you’re going to try, go all the way. otherwise, don’t get into it. if you’re going to try, go all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/roll-the-dice-if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-otherwise-don-t/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“r o l l t h e d i c e if you’re going to try, go all the way. otherwise, don’t even start.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/r-o-l-l-t-h-e-d-i-c-e-if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-otherwise/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [If you're going to try, go all the way. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-this-could-mean-losing/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“If you are going to try, go all the way, otherwhise don't even start.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-are-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-otherwhise-don-t-even-start/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [ well, i don't know about you but I'm going to try everything! War, women, travel, marriage, children, the works. \[...\]. I want to know… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-i-don-t-know-about-you-but-i-m-going-to-try-everything-war-women/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [If you are going to try, go all the way or don't even start. If you follow it you will be alive with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-are-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-or-don-t-even-start-if-you/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-there-is-no-other-feeling-like/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I mean, if you’re going to try you might as well fight for the whole enchilada”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-mean-if-you-re-going-to-try-you-might-as-well-fight-for-the-whole/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Failing may not necessarily mean you're losing out - it may be your defining moment. So, dare to fail forward!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olawale-daniel/failing-may-not-necessarily-mean-you-re-losing-out-it-may-be-your/) [Olawale Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olawale-daniel/) > [“Losing maturity in one’s fiction for the sake of marvels and monsters can also mean losing propriety, and that’s not always a bad thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-duncan/losing-maturity-in-one-s-fiction-for-the-sake-of-marvels-and-monsters/) [Hal Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-duncan/) > [“If you're going to fight for love, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing that love, money, friends, relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/if-you-re-going-to-fight-for-love-go-all-the-way-otherwise-don-t-even/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [I stare at my reflection in the mirror Why am I doing this to myself? Losing my mind on a tiny error, I nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-j/i-stare-at-my-reflection-in-the-mirror-why-am-i-doing-this-to-myself-2/) [Jessie J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-j/) > [Just because I'm losing a battle, doesn't mean I'm losing the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/just-because-i-m-losing-a-battle-doesn-t-mean-i-m-losing-the-war/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [You may not be winning, but this doesn't mean you are losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-may-not-be-winning-but-this-doesn-t-mean-you-are-losing/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Defeat does not mean losing. Rather, a pause, a moment to re-think, re-plan, to re-structure to gain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-da-costa/defeat-does-not-mean-losing-rather-a-pause-a-moment-to-re-think-re/) [Simone Da Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-da-costa/) ## More by Charles Bukowski > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [well, death says, as he walks by, I'm going to get you anyhow no matter what you've been: writer, cab-driver, pimp, butcher, sky-diver, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-death-says-as-he-walks-by-i-m-going-to-get-you-anyhow-no-matter/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“There is only one place to write and that is alone at a typewriter. A writer who has to go into the streets is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/there-is-only-one-place-to-write-and-that-is-alone-at-a-typewriter-a/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“nerves twitching in the sheets -- to face the sunlight again, that's clearly trouble. I like the city better when the neon lights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nerves-twitching-in-the-sheets-to-face-the-sunlight-again-that-s/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Their Love Is Average, Seeks Average But There Is Genius In Their Hatred”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/their-love-is-average-seeks-average-but-there-is-genius-in-their/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I climbed the stairway (there was no elevator) and put the key in. The door swung open. Somebody had changed all the furniture around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-climbed-the-stairway-there-was-no-elevator-and-put-the-key-in-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Strangers when you meet, strangers when you part -a gymnasium of bodies namelessly masturbating each other. People with no morals often considered themselves more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/strangers-when-you-meet-strangers-when-you-part-a-gymnasium-of-bodies/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-like-to-change-liquor-stores-frequently-because-the-clerks-got-to/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I was like a turd that drew flies instead of like a flower that butterflies and bees desired. I wanted to live alone,I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-was-like-a-turd-that-drew-flies-instead-of-like-a-flower-that/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [It's 4:30 in the morning, it's always 4:30 in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-s-4-30-in-the-morning-it-s-always-4-30-in-the-morning/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I had no feeling for the things so many others needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-had-no-feeling-for-the-things-so-many-others-needed/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I am sick with caring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-sick-with-caring/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I went home each night dizzy and sick. He was murdering me with the sound of his voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-went-home-each-night-dizzy-and-sick-he-was-murdering-me-with-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“the nights you fight best are when all the weapons are pointed at you, when all the voices hurl their insults while the dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-nights-you-fight-best-are-when-all-the-weapons-are-pointed-at-you/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Explore all 1,492 Charles Bukowski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## More Fire quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [“Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost; the body aged, sluggish,cold… the embers left from earlier fires shall dully flame again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-is-ever-lost-nor-can-be-lost-the-body-aged-sluggish-cold-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Tonight I feel like a prisoner on fire, waiting desperately... denied, sentenced forever more. Only your love can set me free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bolton/tonight-i-feel-like-a-prisoner-on-fire-waiting-desperately-denied/) [Michael Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bolton/) > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Carrying that lumber the forty meters from the forest had left his knuckles blistered, his underarms sopping, but now a few hours of flames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-marra/carrying-that-lumber-the-forty-meters-from-the-forest-had-left-his/) [Anthony Marra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-marra/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [AHHHHHH! Goyle has set the bloody place on fire! -Ron Weasley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ahhhhhh-goyle-has-set-the-bloody-place-on-fire-ron-weasley/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 8,652 Fire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Bukowski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-otherwise-don-t-even-start-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-otherwise-don-t-even-start-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/charles-bukowski-73_fire_if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-ot_758088.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/charles-bukowski-73_fire_if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-ot_758088.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/charles-bukowski-73_fire_if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-ot_758088.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends…” — Charles Bukowski", "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": "Charles Bukowski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're going to try, go...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-otherwise-don-t-even-start-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-otherwise-don-t-even-start-this/#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 } } ] } ```