--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're not making waves, you're not…" description: "\"If you're not making waves, you're not under weigh.\" — Chester W. Nimitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/chester-w-nimitz-22437_ifs_if-you-re-not-making-waves-you-re-not-un_2392966.png" --- # If you're not making waves, you're not under weigh. ![“If you're not making waves, you're not under weigh.” quote by Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/chester-w-nimitz-22437_ifs_if-you-re-not-making-waves-you-re-not-un_2392966.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/chester-w-nimitz-22437_ifs_if-you-re-not-making-waves-you-re-not-un_2392966.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/chester-w-nimitz-22437_ifs_if-you-re-not-making-waves-you-re-not-un_2392966.png) > “If you're not making waves, you're not under weigh.” [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires bold action; staying passive means missing impact. **In simple terms:** Take risks to make an impact. Key Takeaway Act boldly, seek challenges. Themes risk action leadership Mood determined energetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - social activism - personal growth Key Concepts initiative impact assertiveness Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you avoiding? - How could bold action change your path? A Different Perspective Boldness can lead to reckless decisions without planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Making Waves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-waves-385443/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) [Waves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waves/) [Waves Weigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waves-weigh-5966493/) [Weigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weigh/) ## Related quotes > [It's different as a guest as opposed to being a star of a series. A guest star is a whole different responsibility. It's much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/it-s-different-as-a-guest-as-opposed-to-being-a-star-of-a-series-a/) [Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/) > [What I care about is making money. What I care about is making waves. What I care about is going down as one of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-jacob-friedman/what-i-care-about-is-making-money-what-i-care-about-is-making-waves/) [Maxwell Jacob Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-jacob-friedman/) > [You be making waves, my ship's here to stay. I got what it takes to swim up in it all day. I want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasure-p/you-be-making-waves-my-ship-s-here-to-stay-i-got-what-it-takes-to/) [Pleasure P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pleasure-p/) > [There's no way to move without making waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/there-s-no-way-to-move-without-making-waves/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“I'd spent my whole human life not making waves, hiding what I was, trying not to be noticed. Until now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-d-spent-my-whole-human-life-not-making-waves-hiding-what-i-was/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Making Waves I would do anything for you. Would you be yourself? In the Hans Christian Anderson classic, The Little Mermaid, Ariel gives up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/making-waves-i-would-do-anything-for-you-would-you-be-yourself-in-the/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [“You can’t make a difference without making waves, and some people in the boat won’t like it. So be it. Rock the boat anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/you-can-t-make-a-difference-without-making-waves-and-some-people-in/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“When people don't gossip or talk about you, you are not making waves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/when-people-don-t-gossip-or-talk-about-you-you-are-not-making-waves/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Small minds just like light winds can never create giant waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/small-minds-just-like-light-winds-can-never-create-giant-waves/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I'm so alive. As I stand facing the beauty of the never-ending Pacific Ocean, a late afternoon breeze blows down from the hills behind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/i-m-so-alive-as-i-stand-facing-the-beauty-of-the-never-ending-pacific/) [Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/) > [It was as if when I looked into his eyes I was standing alone on the edge of the world...on a windswept ocean beach.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/it-was-as-if-when-i-looked-into-his-eyes-i-was-standing-alone-on-the/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [All is going on as it was wont. The waves are hoarse with repetition of their mystery; the dust lies piled upon the shore;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-is-going-on-as-it-was-wont-the-waves-are-hoarse-with-repetition/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The fool attempts to predict the next big wave while ignoring the tide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rozoff/the-fool-attempts-to-predict-the-next-big-wave-while-ignoring-the-tide/) [James Rozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rozoff/) > [“A huge wave has magic and when it hits you it has a punch effect! Well, life is just like that, a giant wave,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-huge-wave-has-magic-and-when-it-hits-you-it-has-a-punch-effect-well/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [There's nothing better than having a bottle of beer in your hand in the waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/there-s-nothing-better-than-having-a-bottle-of-beer-in-your-hand-in/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) ## More by Chester W. Nimitz > [When you're in command, command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/when-you-re-in-command-command/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [No other island received as much preliminary pounding as did Iwo Jima.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/no-other-island-received-as-much-preliminary-pounding-as-did-iwo-jima/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/by-their-victory-the-3rd-4th-and-5th-marine-divisions-and-other-units/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [The enemy of our games was always Japan, and the courses were so thorough that after the start of World War II, nothing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/the-enemy-of-our-games-was-always-japan-and-the-courses-were-so/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [It is the function of the Navy to carry the war to the enemy so that it is not fought on U.S. soil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/it-is-the-function-of-the-navy-to-carry-the-war-to-the-enemy-so-that/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [We must not again underestimate the Japanese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/we-must-not-again-underestimate-the-japanese/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/among-the-men-who-fought-on-iwo-jima-uncommon-valor-was-a-common/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [I felt that it was an unnecessary loss of civilian life... We had them beaten. They hadn't enough food, they couldn't do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/i-felt-that-it-was-an-unnecessary-loss-of-civilian-life-we-had-them/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [When I assumed command of the Pacific Fleet in 31 December, 1941; our submarines were already operating against the enemy, the only units of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/when-i-assumed-command-of-the-pacific-fleet-in-31-december-1941-our/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [The Japanese had, in fact, already sued for peace. The atomic bomb played no decisive part, from a purely military point of view, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/the-japanese-had-in-fact-already-sued-for-peace-the-atomic-bomb/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [That is not to say that we can relax our readiness to defend ourselves. Our armament must be adequate to the needs, but our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/that-is-not-to-say-that-we-can-relax-our-readiness-to-defend/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [The battle of Iwo Island has been won. The United States Marines by their individual and collective courage have conquered a base which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/the-battle-of-iwo-island-has-been-won-the-united-states-marines-by/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [I have just taken on a great responsibility. I will do my utmost to meet it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/i-have-just-taken-on-a-great-responsibility-i-will-do-my-utmost-to/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [The U.S.'s major strength factor and weapon is its economy. If you cripple it, you cripple the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/the-u-s-s-major-strength-factor-and-weapon-is-its-economy-if-you/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [We shall never forget that it was our submarines that held the lines against the enemy while our fleets replaced losses and repaired wounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/we-shall-never-forget-that-it-was-our-submarines-that-held-the-lines/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) [Explore all 27 Chester W. Nimitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) ## More Ifs quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [If I don't have pressure, I don't function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/if-i-don-t-have-pressure-i-don-t-function/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) [Browse all 94,303 Ifs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're not making waves, you're not under weigh.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chester W. 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