--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're going to take gambles, you must…" description: "\"If you're going to take gambles, you must have one thing: self-confidence.\" — Don Shula" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/don-shula-11263_confidence_if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must_505759.jpg" --- # If you're going to take gambles, you must have one thing… ![“If you're going to take gambles, you must have one thing: self-confidence.” quote by Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/don-shula-11263_confidence_if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must_505759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/don-shula-11263_confidence_if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must_505759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/don-shula-11263_confidence_if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must_505759.jpg) > “If you're going to take gambles, you must have one thing: self-confidence.” [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking risks requires a foundation of self‑belief; without it, gambles become reckless. **In simple terms:** Self‑confidence fuels bold moves. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner belief before risk. Themes risk confidence decision‑making Mood determined inspirational Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - investment - sports - career changes Key Concepts psychology leadership Questions to Reflect On - What confidence do you truly have? - How do you test your confidence? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Gambles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gambles/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life and love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-love/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) ## Related quotes > [Gambles are the most fun because it's part of being an actor or being a creative person. It's risky only in the vulnerable sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/gambles-are-the-most-fun-because-it-s-part-of-being-an-actor-or-being/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [A speculator gambles that a stock will go up in price because somebody else will pay even more for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/a-speculator-gambles-that-a-stock-will-go-up-in-price-because/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [We may gamble on outsmarting the law; we may even gamble on the leniency of man and the mercy of God-but no man ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-greenberg/we-may-gamble-on-outsmarting-the-law-we-may-even-gamble-on-the/) [Sidney Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-greenberg/) > [You have to take gambles in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/you-have-to-take-gambles-in-life/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [“Life’s a sequence of gambles. You’re going to win some. You’re going to lose some. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play the game.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/life-s-a-sequence-of-gambles-you-re-going-to-win-some-you-re-going-to/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [I swore I was going to exclusively collect assets and not liabilities for the rest of my life. I swore never to take gambles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-blixseth/i-swore-i-was-going-to-exclusively-collect-assets-and-not-liabilities/) Tim Blixseth > [“Wishing made it a sure thing though." "But who wants a sure thing? Life is about gambles,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-sedoti/wishing-made-it-a-sure-thing-though-but-who-wants-a-sure-thing-life/) [Chelsea Sedoti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-sedoti/) > [To put money into anything, anywhere, provided that the downside is measurable and acceptable and the chances of a good profit appear to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/to-put-money-into-anything-anywhere-provided-that-the-downside-is/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [I've taken considerable gambles on shows, but they're very considered gambles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-mackintosh/i-ve-taken-considerable-gambles-on-shows-but-they-re-very-considered/) [Cameron Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-mackintosh/) > [“Sometimes, gambles pay off in unforeseen ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/staci-hart/sometimes-gambles-pay-off-in-unforeseen-ways/) [Staci Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/staci-hart/) > [When you take smaller gambles, no one particular deal can be big enough to have a material adverse effect on the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lichtenstein/when-you-take-smaller-gambles-no-one-particular-deal-can-be-big/) [David Lichtenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lichtenstein/) > [It is always a vulgar and often an unhealthy pastime, and it is a vice which does not go alone; the man who gambles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/it-is-always-a-vulgar-and-often-an-unhealthy-pastime-and-it-is-a-vice/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [The worst thing that can happen to a man who gambles is to win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-to-a-man-who-gambles-is-to-win/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You can't be creative without criticism. If your life is without critics then maybe you are painting your life's masterpiece with only a broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-can-t-be-creative-without-criticism-if-your-life-is-without/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [A person who has not made peace with his losses is likely to accept gambles that would be unacceptable to him otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/a-person-who-has-not-made-peace-with-his-losses-is-likely-to-accept/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) ## More by Don Shula > [You can't play enough golf or do any of those other things that fill that kind of excitement that coaching gave me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/you-can-t-play-enough-golf-or-do-any-of-those-other-things-that-fill/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Peyton Manning is doing things that I think no other quarterback in the history of the league has done at the line of scrimmage...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/peyton-manning-is-doing-things-that-i-think-no-other-quarterback-in/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Failure isn't fatal, and success isn't final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/failure-isn-t-fatal-and-success-isn-t-final/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and - above all - how hard you work set the stage for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/as-a-coach-your-high-standards-of-performance-attention-to-detail-and/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I'm not going to worry about the critics until some of my peers start saying I'm a softie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-m-not-going-to-worry-about-the-critics-until-some-of-my-peers-start/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I have no magic formula. The only way I know to win is through hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-have-no-magic-formula-the-only-way-i-know-to-win-is-through-hard/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I never felt I knew it all. I always felt there's something new to learn, something new to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-never-felt-i-knew-it-all-i-always-felt-there-s-something-new-to/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [He wants to be his own man and be recognized for what he's done. He's not asking for anything because of his name. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/he-wants-to-be-his-own-man-and-be-recognized-for-what-he-s-done-he-s/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Leadership implies movement toward something and convictions provide that direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/leadership-implies-movement-toward-something-and-convictions-provide/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Success is not forever, and failure is never final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/success-is-not-forever-and-failure-is-never-final/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [The ultimate goal is victory. And if you refuse to work as hard as you possibly can toward that aim, or if you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/the-ultimate-goal-is-victory-and-if-you-refuse-to-work-as-hard-as-you/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I don't know any other way to lead but by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-don-t-know-any-other-way-to-lead-but-by-example/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [And then to end up with a total of 347 wins, averaging 10 regular season wins for 33 years and the best winning percentage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/and-then-to-end-up-with-a-total-of-347-wins-averaging-10-regular/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/sure-luck-means-a-lot-in-football-not-having-a-good-quarterback-is/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I don't want a player that's content with not playing... But we wanted to play the guys that got us here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-don-t-want-a-player-that-s-content-with-not-playing-but-we-wanted/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) [Explore all 60 Don Shula quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're going to take gambles, you must have one thing: self-confidence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Shula" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must-have-one-thing-self/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must-have-one-thing-self/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/don-shula-11263_confidence_if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must_505759.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/don-shula-11263_confidence_if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must_505759.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/don-shula-11263_confidence_if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must_505759.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're going to take gambles, you must have one thing: self-confidence.” — Don Shula", "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": "Don Shula", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're going to take gambles,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must-have-one-thing-self/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/if-you-re-going-to-take-gambles-you-must-have-one-thing-self/#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 } } ] } ```