---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How do you want to play it, Captain? Slow…"
description: "\"“How do you want to play it, Captain? Slow and steady, or shock and awe?”\" — David Mack"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/david-mack-18239_captain_how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow_633360.jpg"
---

#  How do you want to play it, Captain? Slow and steady, or…

![“How do you want to play it, Captain? Slow and steady, or shock and awe?” quote by David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/david-mack-18239_captain_how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow_633360.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/david-mack-18239_captain_how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow_633360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/david-mack-18239_captain_how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow_633360.jpg)

> ““How do you want to play it, Captain? Slow and steady, or shock and awe?””

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

## About This Quote

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

Choosing a strategy involves weighing consistency against bold, disruptive tactics.

**In simple terms:** Decide between steady progress or dramatic impact.

Key Takeaway

Pick the approach that fits your goals.

Themes

strategy decision risk leadership

Mood

determined analytical

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- business planning
- military operations
- personal projects
- sports coaching

Key Concepts

tactical planning psychology of choice

Questions to Reflect On

- What are the risks of a “shock and awe” approach?
- When is steady progress more effective?

A Different Perspective

Bold moves can backfire if resources are limited.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Slow and steady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow-and-steady/)

## Related quotes

> [It's every boy's dream to play Captain Hook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/it-s-every-boy-s-dream-to-play-captain-hook/)

[Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/)

> [I can’t believe I was almost too chicken to play Captain America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evans/i-can-t-believe-i-was-almost-too-chicken-to-play-captain-america/)

[Chris Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evans/)

> [I'm okay with the idea that slow and steady wins the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-m-okay-with-the-idea-that-slow-and-steady-wins-the-race/)

[Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/)

> [Slow and steady wins the race, and I believe in paying your dues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/slow-and-steady-wins-the-race-and-i-believe-in-paying-your-dues/)

[Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/)

> [Unfortunately, slow and steady in any financial market is actually impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-voorhees/unfortunately-slow-and-steady-in-any-financial-market-is-actually/)

[Erik Voorhees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-voorhees/)

> [I've worked really hard to get to where I am. Slow and steady wins the race, and I believe in paying your dues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/i-ve-worked-really-hard-to-get-to-where-i-am-slow-and-steady-wins-the/)

[Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/)

> [In terms of my career as a whole, it's been slow and steady wins the race. We've had people slowly but surely jump on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-hoffman/in-terms-of-my-career-as-a-whole-it-s-been-slow-and-steady-wins-the/)

[Robby Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby-hoffman/)

> [Slow and steady= longer relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-scott/slow-and-steady-longer-relationship/)

Jared Scott

> [“Cooper walked, slow and steady, four-four time in a world gone off measure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-sakey/cooper-walked-slow-and-steady-four-four-time-in-a-world-gone-off/)

[Marcus Sakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-sakey/)

> [Pause and remember - Slow and steady will get you where you want to go. If you put too much pressure on yourself for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-young/pause-and-remember-slow-and-steady-will-get-you-where-you-want-to-go/)

[Jennifer Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-young/)

> [“...slow and steady wins the race, till truth and talent claim their place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-novak/slow-and-steady-wins-the-race-till-truth-and-talent-claim-their-place/)

[B.J. Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-novak/)

> [Slow and steady wins the race only if the faster one stops somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jatin-tanwer/slow-and-steady-wins-the-race-only-if-the-faster-one-stops-somewhere/)

[Jatin Tanwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jatin-tanwer/)

> [Remember, slow and steady wins the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ieyasu-tokugawa/remember-slow-and-steady-wins-the-race/)

[Ieyasu Tokugawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ieyasu-tokugawa/)

> [Jessica Tandy. Nice company! And Ruth Gordon. They worked all along. She didn't really get any big star recognition until Driving Miss Daisy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/jessica-tandy-nice-company-and-ruth-gordon-they-worked-all-along-she/)

[Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/)

> [Slow and steady wins the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/slow-and-steady-wins-the-race/)

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

## More by David Mack

> [“Apart from live performance, vinyl analog recordings were Georgiou’s favorite way to enjoy music. Rich, warm, and so eerily present—that was the enduring appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/apart-from-live-performance-vinyl-analog-recordings-were-georgiou-s/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“Spock split his attention between Burnham and the path ahead. “I doubt either of us would be welcomed among Vulcan crews. As quick as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/spock-split-his-attention-between-burnham-and-the-path-ahead-i-doubt/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“Engineering, this is ops! Status report!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/engineering-this-is-ops-status-report/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“Don’t tell me,” Burnham cut in. “It’s fascinating .” Spock said nothing in response, but he could not help but appear mildly put out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/don-t-tell-me-burnham-cut-in-it-s-fascinating-spock-said-nothing-in/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“You seem . . . I don’t know. Older? No—calmer than you did before.” She tilted her head as she continued to study him and collect her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/you-seem-i-don-t-know-older-no-calmer-than-you-did-before-she-tilted/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“She reminded him of the small team of Starfleet officers who had rescued him from certain death on his homeworld many years earlier. They,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/she-reminded-him-of-the-small-team-of-starfleet-officers-who-had/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“She tapped her wrist, an ancient Terran gesture meant to signal impatience, one of the few things she remembered from early childhood on Earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/she-tapped-her-wrist-an-ancient-terran-gesture-meant-to-signal/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“Fire at will! And for the love of the Great Bird of the Galaxy, hit something!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/fire-at-will-and-for-the-love-of-the-great-bird-of-the-galaxy-hit/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“But until today, I’d thought I was Sarek’s greatest disappointment.” “Unlikely,” Spock said. “I am quite certain he has reserved that distinction for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/but-until-today-i-d-thought-i-was-sarek-s-greatest-disappointment/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“I’m surrounded by modernity, yet the ways of business remain unchanged since the age of barter and battery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/i-m-surrounded-by-modernity-yet-the-ways-of-business-remain-unchanged/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“Politics is merely war by other means. -an old Andorian saying”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/politics-is-merely-war-by-other-means-an-old-andorian-saying/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“full disclosure, Mister Spock. Who is the Shenzhou’s XO to you?” “Her name is Michael Burnham,” Spock said. “She is . . . a friend of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/full-disclosure-mister-spock-who-is-the-shenzhou-s-xo-to-you-her-name/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“the only things he had ever given her that she hadn’t discarded in their divorce, both retained in the name of sentimentality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/the-only-things-he-had-ever-given-her-that-she-hadn-t-discarded-in/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“Pick up your feet, Mister Saru,” Burnham said as she and Gant headed to the turbolift. “Time, tide, and transporters wait for no one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/pick-up-your-feet-mister-saru-burnham-said-as-she-and-gant-headed-to/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

> [“Everything we do today defines us—because tomorrow might never come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/everything-we-do-today-defines-us-because-tomorrow-might-never-come/)

[David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

[Explore all 35 David Mack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/)

## More Captain quotes

> [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/)

[Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/)

> [I think anyone who wants to go up against Captain Marvel ought to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/i-think-anyone-who-wants-to-go-up-against-captain-marvel-ought-to-be/)

[Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/)

> [Jon Moxley - great performer. I'm sure he's a nice guy. But at the end of the day, I think people are sick and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-jacob-friedman/jon-moxley-great-performer-i-m-sure-he-s-a-nice-guy-but-at-the-end-of/)

[Maxwell Jacob Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-jacob-friedman/)

> [I've definitely grown into the job after that difficult first Test against Pakistan. I'd been captain for the Sri Lanka one-dayers, which hadn't gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-ve-definitely-grown-into-the-job-after-that-difficult-first-test/)

[Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/)

> [“ The captain? Sophia stood staring numbly after him. Had he just said he’d introduce her to the captain? Of someone else was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-captain-sophia-stood-staring-numbly-after-him-had-he-just-said-he/)

[Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/)

> [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [I think there will be one overarching coach for Tests and one-day cricket. I think you need one person in control and in charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-think-there-will-be-one-overarching-coach-for-tests-and-one-day/)

[Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/)

> [Obviously as players we want to play every game. But when you do miss out, I strongly believe the job is to not sulk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/obviously-as-players-we-want-to-play-every-game-but-when-you-do-miss/)

[Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/)

> [Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/jay-jay-okocha-on-and-off-the-field-he-was-the-captain-you-looked-for/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [It’s up to the captain. I certainly feel my golf is worthy of playing in the Ryder Cup. But I’m not sure I’m on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-langer/it-s-up-to-the-captain-i-certainly-feel-my-golf-is-worthy-of-playing/)

[Bernhard Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-langer/)

> [“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul and all that jazz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/i-am-the-master-of-my-fate-i-am-the-captain-of-my-soul-and-all-that/)

[Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/)

> [I will be captain for my teammates and be captain of Manchester United is an important achievement for me but I think everyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-will-be-captain-for-my-teammates-and-be-captain-of-manchester/)

[Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/)

> [You are here because you some Justin Beaver, Miley Cirus lookin' muthas. -Captain Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/21-jump-street/you-are-here-because-you-some-justin-beaver-miley-cirus-lookin-muthas/)

 21 Jump Street

> [Captain America is an interesting character because it makes you ask those questions in yourself as a writer. What do we want as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/captain-america-is-an-interesting-character-because-it-makes-you-ask/)

[Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/)

> [Captain looks at Janie closely. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," she says. "You're gonna have a heck of a shiner by the time the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/captain-looks-at-janie-closely-jesus-mary-and-joseph-she-says-you-re/)

[Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/)

Browse all 873 Captain quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“How do you want to play it, Captain? Slow and steady, or shock and awe?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Mack"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow-and-steady-or-shock-and-awe/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Captain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow-and-steady-or-shock-and-awe/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/david-mack-18239_captain_how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow_633360.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/david-mack-18239_captain_how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow_633360.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/david-mack-18239_captain_how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow_633360.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How do you want to play it, Captain? Slow and steady, or shock and awe?” — David Mack",
                "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": "David Mack",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“How do you want to play...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow-and-steady-or-shock-and-awe/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/how-do-you-want-to-play-it-captain-slow-and-steady-or-shock-and-awe/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
