---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like solo sailors venturing into the…"
description: "\"Like solo sailors venturing into the Southern Ocean, climbers are seduced by risk. The desire to push to a summit or scale a rock face is so strong tha..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/charles-duhigg-1088_brains_like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-sou_796017.png"
---

#  Like solo sailors venturing into the Southern Ocean…

![“Like solo sailors venturing into the Southern Ocean, climbers are seduced by risk. The desire to push to a summit or scale a rock face is so strong that they consciously or subconsciously minimize safety precautions drilled into their brains.” quote by Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/charles-duhigg-1088_brains_like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-sou_796017.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/charles-duhigg-1088_brains_like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-sou_796017.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/charles-duhigg-1088_brains_like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-sou_796017.png)

> “Like solo sailors venturing into the Southern Ocean, climbers are seduced by risk. The desire to push to a summit or scale a rock face is so strong that they consciously or subconsciously minimize safety precautions drilled into their brains.”

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Risk can be alluring, prompting people to downplay safety in pursuit of extreme challenges.

**In simple terms:** People ignore safety when chasing thrills.

Key Takeaway

Balance excitement with caution.

Themes

risk adventure psychology

Mood

anxious excited

Type

advisory motivational

When to use this quote

- mountain climbing
- extreme sports
- business ventures
- personal challenges

Key Concepts

risk perception thrill seeking decision making

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you assess risk before acting?
- What safeguards can you implement without dampening excitement?

A Different Perspective

Safety neglect can lead to severe consequences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains/) [Climbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbers/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Minimize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimize/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Sailors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailors/) [Summit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summit/)

## Related quotes

> [The will to prepare, the guts to risk, and the desire to be the best. These are trademarks of champions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/the-will-to-prepare-the-guts-to-risk-and-the-desire-to-be-the-best/)

[Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/)

> [“Lead us not into temptation' often means, among other things, 'Deny me those gratifying invitations, those highly interesting contacts, that participation in the brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/lead-us-not-into-temptation-often-means-among-other-things-deny-me/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [Our brain is essentially programmed to enjoy carbohydrates because they give us a sense of fullness and a rush of pleasure. When people go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/our-brain-is-essentially-programmed-to-enjoy-carbohydrates-because/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [I know I'm going to make mistakes, but you try to minimize them. Don't make the same ones twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-jackson/i-know-i-m-going-to-make-mistakes-but-you-try-to-minimize-them-don-t/)

[Malik Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-jackson/)

> [It is time to stop debating whether the Internet is an effective tool for political expression and instead to address the much more urgent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/it-is-time-to-stop-debating-whether-the-internet-is-an-effective-tool/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [I would not minimize the digital divide, which separates the computerized world from the rest, nor would I underestimate the importance of traditional books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-darnton/i-would-not-minimize-the-digital-divide-which-separates-the/)

[Robert Darnton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-darnton/)

> [The biggest thing growing cities need to do is minimize barriers to development so that as long as someone is doing good urbanism, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/the-biggest-thing-growing-cities-need-to-do-is-minimize-barriers-to/)

[Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/)

> [Most large companies structure their affairs so that they minimize their tax payments. As long as you do it within the law, it's OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-feeney/most-large-companies-structure-their-affairs-so-that-they-minimize/)

[Chuck Feeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-feeney/)

> [I believe that we should do anything we can to minimize abortion and not to encourage it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-believe-that-we-should-do-anything-we-can-to-minimize-abortion-and/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Brows more or less can sculpt the face and minimize features you find less flattering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia-soare/brows-more-or-less-can-sculpt-the-face-and-minimize-features-you-find/)

[Anastasia Soare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastasia-soare/)

> [One side of the American psyche wants smaller government, lower taxes, and more choices for individuals, even if those choices increase risk. The other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/one-side-of-the-american-psyche-wants-smaller-government-lower-taxes/)

[Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/)

> [The Shortest Solution Of Every Problem Is To Minimize The Distance Between Your Knee And Floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/the-shortest-solution-of-every-problem-is-to-minimize-the-distance/)

[Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/)

> [“Millions of business people are each constantly forced to choose between their desire to not be a bad person and their desire to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-business-people-are-each-constantly-forced-to-choose/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [“Everyone’s experience is unique to them. Don’t minimize it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/effie-kammenou/everyone-s-experience-is-unique-to-them-don-t-minimize-it/)

Effie Kammenou

> [Cameras help to minimize collateral damage, and very often, without a camera a missile cannot fire. Certainly, without a camera a drone can't function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/cameras-help-to-minimize-collateral-damage-and-very-often-without-a/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

## More by Charles Duhigg

> [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America has always had an apocalyptic strain. Yet it also seems to believe that if, or when, The End comes, it will still come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-has-always-had-an-apocalyptic-strain-yet-it-also-seems-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Bromates are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but officials are required to test for them only when water leaves a treatment plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/bromates-are-regulated-by-the-safe-drinking-water-act-but-officials/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/habits-scientists-say-emerge-because-the-brain-is-constantly-looking/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [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/)

> [Older Americans are perfect telemarketing customers, analysts say, because they are often at home, rely on delivery services, and are lonely for the companionship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/older-americans-are-perfect-telemarketing-customers-analysts-say/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/all-our-life-so-far-as-it-has-definite-form-is-but-a-mass-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Someday soon, say predictive analytics experts, it will be possible for companies to know our tastes and predict our habits better than we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/someday-soon-say-predictive-analytics-experts-it-will-be-possible-for/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“I love Paul O'Neill, but you could not pay me enough to work for him again" one official told me. "the man has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/i-love-paul-o-neill-but-you-could-not-pay-me-enough-to-work-for-him/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“THE FRAMEWORK: • Identify the routine • Experiment with rewards • Isolate the cue • Have a plan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-framework-identify-the-routine-experiment-with-rewards-isolate/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Barium, which is commonly found in power plant waste and scrubber wastewater, has been linked to heart problems and diseases in other organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/barium-which-is-commonly-found-in-power-plant-waste-and-scrubber/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [A movement starts because of the social habits of friendship and the strong ties between close acquaintances. It grows because of the habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/a-movement-starts-because-of-the-social-habits-of-friendship-and-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“In some sense, he said, a community was a giant collection of habits occurring among thousands of people that, depending on how they’re influenced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/in-some-sense-he-said-a-community-was-a-giant-collection-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

[Explore all 293 Charles Duhigg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## More Brains quotes

> [Our brains are great at knowing what to forget. We actually have to teach computers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/our-brains-are-great-at-knowing-what-to-forget-we-actually-have-to/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [Do not borrow the productions of other men's brains and pens and recite them as a lesson; but make the most of the talents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/do-not-borrow-the-productions-of-other-men-s-brains-and-pens-and/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [Brains without competitive hearts are rudderless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/brains-without-competitive-hearts-are-rudderless/)

[Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/)

> [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [The average investor does significantly worse than a simple index... It's literally because of the way our brains are wired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-shaughnessy/the-average-investor-does-significantly-worse-than-a-simple-index-it/)

[James O'Shaughnessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-shaughnessy/)

> [It's not telepathy. It's not the Borg. But we created a new central nervous system made of two brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-nicolelis/it-s-not-telepathy-it-s-not-the-borg-but-we-created-a-new-central/)

[Miguel Nicolelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-nicolelis/)

> [Nature abhors a vacuum. When a head lacks brains, nature fills it with conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nature-abhors-a-vacuum-when-a-head-lacks-brains-nature-fills-it-with/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [In 'Self Comes to Mind' I pay a lot of attention to simple creatures without brains or minds, because those 'cartooned abstractions of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/in-self-comes-to-mind-i-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-simple-creatures/)

[Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/)

> [It may well be our brains are wired up to be slightly more optimistic than they should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/it-may-well-be-our-brains-are-wired-up-to-be-slightly-more-optimistic/)

[Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/)

> [“Archaic humans paid for their large brains in two ways. Firstly, they spent more time in search of food. Secondly, their muscles atrophied. Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/archaic-humans-paid-for-their-large-brains-in-two-ways-firstly-they/)

[Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/)

> ['I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-don-t-need-brains-says-the-billionaire-contemptuously-i-m-brainy/)

[Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/)

> [I like to think our brains are a bit like algorithms. Whatever you give it and feed it, you get out the product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-like-to-think-our-brains-are-a-bit-like-algorithms-whatever-you/)

[Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/)

> [“It is now known that babies’ brains develop according to how much they are loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/it-is-now-known-that-babies-brains-develop-according-to-how-much-they/)

[Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/)

> [“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/there-is-hope-even-when-your-brain-tells-you-there-isn-t/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [“Our brains turn into simple signal-processing units, quickly shepherding information into consciousness and then back out again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-carr/our-brains-turn-into-simple-signal-processing-units-quickly/)

[Nicholas Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-carr/)

[Browse all 532 Brains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Like solo sailors venturing into the Southern Ocean, climbers are seduced by risk. The desire to push to a summit or scale a rock face is so strong that they consciously or subconsciously minimize safety precautions drilled into their brains.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Duhigg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-southern-ocean-climbers-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brains"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-southern-ocean-climbers-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/charles-duhigg-1088_brains_like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-sou_796017.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/charles-duhigg-1088_brains_like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-sou_796017.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/charles-duhigg-1088_brains_like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-sou_796017.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Like solo sailors venturing into the Southern Ocean, climbers are seduced by risk. The desire to push to a…” — Charles Duhigg",
                "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 Duhigg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Like solo sailors venturing into the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-southern-ocean-climbers-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/like-solo-sailors-venturing-into-the-southern-ocean-climbers-are/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
