--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's…" description: "\"The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the attempt. I may never be what I ought to be, want to be -- but how will I know unless I try? Sure, i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/chris-claremont-4123_accepting_the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-mak_212950.jpg" --- # The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the… ![“The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the attempt. I may never be what I ought to be, want to be -- but how will I know unless I try? Sure, it's scary, but what's the alternative? Stagnation - A safer, more terrible form of death. Not of the body, but of the spirit. An animal knows what…” quote by Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/chris-claremont-4123_accepting_the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-mak_212950.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/chris-claremont-4123_accepting_the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-mak_212950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/chris-claremont-4123_accepting_the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-mak_212950.jpg) > “The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the attempt. I may never be what I ought to be, want to be -- but how will I know unless I try? Sure, it's scary, but what's the alternative? Stagnation - A safer, more terrible form of death. Not of the body, but of the spirit. An animal knows what it is, and accepts it. A man may know what he is -- but he questions. He dreams. He strives. Changes. Grows.” [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting is essential; without trying, stagnation kills the spirit, even if success is uncertain. **In simple terms:** Try, or stagnate. Key Takeaway Embrace effort despite fear. Themes courage growth risk self‑actualization Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career ambitions - personal dreams - creative endeavors - skill learning Key Concepts attempt failure spiritual death human potential Questions to Reflect On - What would you try if fear wasn't a factor? - How does stagnation feel in your life? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze; effort may not guarantee success, but inaction guarantees stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Stagnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stagnation/) [Strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strife/) [Win or lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-or-lose/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning Or Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-or-losing/) ## Related quotes > [There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losing-there-is-won-and-there-is/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I used to get stressed out all the time when I thought winning was important. I wanted to try to win and help my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-used-to-get-stressed-out-all-the-time-when-i-thought-winning-was/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Sometimes when you win, you really lose. And sometimes when you lose, you really win. And sometimes when you win or lose, you actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/sometimes-when-you-win-you-really-lose-and-sometimes-when-you-lose/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I think that any city created to be that over-the-top tends to be slightly inspiring, if not frightening. Vegas is all about people being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-symon/i-think-that-any-city-created-to-be-that-over-the-top-tends-to-be/) [Michael Symon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-symon/) > [Don't focus on the outcome, when you focus on the outcome it creates anxiety and it builds. I just need to enjoy the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rockhold/don-t-focus-on-the-outcome-when-you-focus-on-the-outcome-it-creates/) [Luke Rockhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rockhold/) > [When I was deciding to fight, the thought of winning or losing didn't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velupillai-prabhakaran/when-i-was-deciding-to-fight-the-thought-of-winning-or-losing-didn-t/) [Velupillai Prabhakaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velupillai-prabhakaran/) > [There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/there-are-more-important-things-in-life-than-winning-or-losing-a-game/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [It's not about winning or losing, but love and respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/it-s-not-about-winning-or-losing-but-love-and-respect/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Perpetuating success or sliding into decline is the result of many intersecting forces that reinforce one another directly and indirectly. They are both cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/perpetuating-success-or-sliding-into-decline-is-the-result-of-many/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [If I have given my all and still do not win, I haven't lost. Others might remember winning or losing; I remember the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-have-given-my-all-and-still-do-not-win-i-haven-t-lost-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most important thing in my life is Christ. He's more important than winning or losing or whether I'm playing or not. Everything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-is-christ-he-s-more-important/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [It's not about winning or losing a competition, it's about beating the doubt from within yourself and knowing at the end of each day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-horton/it-s-not-about-winning-or-losing-a-competition-it-s-about-beating-the/) [Jonathan Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-horton/) > [Its not about winning or losing. Its about enjoying life. When you enjoy it, it does not matter if you win or lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/its-not-about-winning-or-losing-its-about-enjoying-life-when-you/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [For me, bullfighting was this very spiritual engagement with power, with power and death. You're pitting yourself against a force that's stronger than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-ford/for-me-bullfighting-was-this-very-spiritual-engagement-with-power/) [Bette Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-ford/) > [I have a basic philosophy that I've tried to follow during my coaching career. Whether you're winning or losing, it's important to always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cotton-fitzsimmons/i-have-a-basic-philosophy-that-i-ve-tried-to-follow-during-my/) Cotton Fitzsimmons ## More by Chris Claremont > [The weirdest, most eloquent memory I have of the time on the kibbutz is, every Saturday night was movie night, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-weirdest-most-eloquent-memory-i-have-of-the-time-on-the-kibbutz/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [Life is the ultimate adventure, and Death, the prize that awaits us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/life-is-the-ultimate-adventure-and-death-the-prize-that-awaits-us-all/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [I want to talk about what I'm doing now... I'm not interested in what I've done, I'm interested in what I'm about to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/i-want-to-talk-about-what-i-m-doing-now-i-m-not-interested-in-what-i/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [I'd rather have Ben Affleck feeling something than twenty minutes of punching CGI Zod. You want moments that resonate with your audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/i-d-rather-have-ben-affleck-feeling-something-than-twenty-minutes-of/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [The challenge is, in terms of a canon like 'X-Men,' it's more like 'Harry Potter' and Hogwarts, or 'Game of Thrones.' It needs time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-challenge-is-in-terms-of-a-canon-like-x-men-it-s-more-like-harry/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [Look at 'Avatar:' the foreign ticket sales were over twice the domestic returns. The mind boggles at those kinds of numbers, but that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/look-at-avatar-the-foreign-ticket-sales-were-over-twice-the-domestic/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [The first challenge that every writer or creator of material faces is getting through the crowd so that the person you're trying to sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-first-challenge-that-every-writer-or-creator-of-material-faces-is/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [All good communal storytelling comes from the sagas and arguments within the writers room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/all-good-communal-storytelling-comes-from-the-sagas-and-arguments/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [“I have a box at school, Storm, filled with photos of friends and famiy. They have one thing in common. They're all dead. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/i-have-a-box-at-school-storm-filled-with-photos-of-friends-and-famiy/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [The one immutable reality of film is, no matter how wonderful the actors and the performances are, every year the actors age and grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-one-immutable-reality-of-film-is-no-matter-how-wonderful-the/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [I think there's a yin and a yang to everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/i-think-there-s-a-yin-and-a-yang-to-everything/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [The key thing if you're a writer is to visualize the scene and convey it to the penciller and turn the penciller loose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-key-thing-if-you-re-a-writer-is-to-visualize-the-scene-and-convey/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [I find the idea of the recap page to be something of a waste. It's the page nobody ever reads and it's even worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/i-find-the-idea-of-the-recap-page-to-be-something-of-a-waste-it-s-the/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [If you're going to create a character, the tools you use to make that character 'real' are the lives you see around you. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/if-you-re-going-to-create-a-character-the-tools-you-use-to-make-that/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [It seems that most of the projects I'm doing with relationship to Marvel's 80th anniversary occur during my core run on the X-Men titles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/it-seems-that-most-of-the-projects-i-m-doing-with-relationship-to/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) [Explore all 116 Chris Claremont quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the attempt. I may never be what I ought to be, want to be -- but how will I know unless I try? Sure, it's scary, but what's the alternative? Stagnation - A safer, more terrible form of death. Not of the body, but of the spirit. An animal knows what it is, and accepts it. A man may know what he is -- but he questions. He dreams. He strives. Changes. Grows.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Claremont" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-making-the-attempt-i-may-never/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-making-the-attempt-i-may-never/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/chris-claremont-4123_accepting_the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-mak_212950.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/chris-claremont-4123_accepting_the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-mak_212950.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/chris-claremont-4123_accepting_the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-mak_212950.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the attempt. I may never be what I ought to be, want to be…” — Chris Claremont", "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": "Chris Claremont", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The key isn't winning -- or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-making-the-attempt-i-may-never/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-making-the-attempt-i-may-never/#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 } } ] } ```