--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a pathfinder is to be willing to…" description: "\"Being a pathfinder is to be willing to risk failure and still go on.\" — Gail Sheehy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/gail-sheehy-3031_being_being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-r_2550233.png" --- # Being a pathfinder is to be willing to risk failure and… ![“Being a pathfinder is to be willing to risk failure and still go on.” quote by Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/gail-sheehy-3031_being_being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-r_2550233.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/gail-sheehy-3031_being_being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-r_2550233.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/gail-sheehy-3031_being_being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-r_2550233.png) > “Being a pathfinder is to be willing to risk failure and still go on.” [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing uncertainty and persisting despite possible failure defines a true explorer. **In simple terms:** Risk and keep moving forward. Key Takeaway Accept risk, keep going. Themes courage risk resilience Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career change - entrepreneurship - creative projects - personal development Key Concepts exploration growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you avoiding? - How can you prepare for possible setbacks? A Different Perspective Failure can halt progress if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) ## Related quotes > [One of the reasons people stop learning is that they become less and less willing to risk failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/one-of-the-reasons-people-stop-learning-is-that-they-become-less-and/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [If you want something you can have it, but only if you want everything that goes with it, including all the hard work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/if-you-want-something-you-can-have-it-but-only-if-you-want-everything/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [You can't succeed unless you're willing to risk failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/you-can-t-succeed-unless-you-re-willing-to-risk-failure/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [He who finds a new path is a pathfinder, even if the trail has to be found again by others; and he who walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-khaldun/he-who-finds-a-new-path-is-a-pathfinder-even-if-the-trail-has-to-be/) [Ibn Khaldun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-khaldun/) > [“(Rigg) had often complained that all these languages were useless, and Father had only said, "A man who speaks but one language understands none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/rigg-had-often-complained-that-all-these-languages-were-useless-and/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [A pathfinder's job is hard enough — blazing trails where there are none, guided by nothing but hearsay and gut. While you're hacking your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-pathfinder-s-job-is-hard-enough-blazing-trails-where-there-are-none/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I consider myself a pathfinder. I have been excavating the jungle and making the road for others to walk. I like to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhirubhai-ambani/i-consider-myself-a-pathfinder-i-have-been-excavating-the-jungle-and/) [Dhirubhai Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhirubhai-ambani/) > [By my reckoning, I'm about 100 kilometers from Pathfinder. Technically it's called “Carl Sagan Memorial Station.” But with all due respect to Carl, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/by-my-reckoning-i-m-about-100-kilometers-from-pathfinder-technically/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [I'm interested in stories. I think I'm a bit of a pathfinder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-harlech/i-m-interested-in-stories-i-think-i-m-a-bit-of-a-pathfinder/) [Amanda Harlech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-harlech/) > [“Maybe I will do what I want with my life! The only problem is that I have no idea what I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/maybe-i-will-do-what-i-want-with-my-life-the-only-problem-is-that-i/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“The ability to overcome failure—to live through it and move on—is crucial. If we are not willing to face failure—if we don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hunter/the-ability-to-overcome-failure-to-live-through-it-and-move-on-is/) [John Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hunter/) > [The hardest things to do in any art is to risk failure and put yourself out on the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/the-hardest-things-to-do-in-any-art-is-to-risk-failure-and-put/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [The only risk of failure is promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-only-risk-of-failure-is-promotion/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The risk of failure is part of the fun of what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/the-risk-of-failure-is-part-of-the-fun-of-what-i-do/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [The 'Amazing' can only be created by facing fear, risk and failure during the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brown/the-amazing-can-only-be-created-by-facing-fear-risk-and-failure/) [Joel Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brown/) ## More by Gail Sheehy > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [No one can control the aging process or the trajectory of illness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/no-one-can-control-the-aging-process-or-the-trajectory-of-illness/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [“Further discomfort from these new realities afflicts men who expected to reach a certain level by dint of their white maleness but who now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/further-discomfort-from-these-new-realities-afflicts-men-who-expected/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [I dare to do things - that's how I survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-dare-to-do-things-that-s-how-i-survive/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [Spontaneity, the hallmark of childhood, is well worth cultivating to counteract the rigidity that may otherwise set in as we grow older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/spontaneity-the-hallmark-of-childhood-is-well-worth-cultivating-to/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [By listening, by caring, by playing you back to yourself, friends ratify your better instincts and endorse your unique worth. Friends validate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/by-listening-by-caring-by-playing-you-back-to-yourself-friends-ratify/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [The first thing one notices about Jill Abramson is her short stature. The second is her intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/the-first-thing-one-notices-about-jill-abramson-is-her-short-stature/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [“Ignorant of our own and our mate’s inner life, we are ruled largely by external forces at this stage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/ignorant-of-our-own-and-our-mate-s-inner-life-we-are-ruled-largely-by/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [Family caregiving has become a predictable crisis. Americans are living longer and longer but dying slower and slower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/family-caregiving-has-become-a-predictable-crisis-americans-are/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [“The other real forces urging young people into marriages generally sift down to one of the following: the need for safety, the need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/the-other-real-forces-urging-young-people-into-marriages-generally/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [I'd visually have that idea. I'm diving off the end of the diving board. I'm not going to be worried about if I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-d-visually-have-that-idea-i-m-diving-off-the-end-of-the-diving/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [To hear how special and wonderful we are is endlessly enthralling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-hear-how-special-and-wonderful-we-are-is-endlessly-enthralling/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [When men reach their sixties and retire, they go to pieces. Women go right on cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/when-men-reach-their-sixties-and-retire-they-go-to-pieces-women-go/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [Journalism today is obviously in a major transition. Going to journalism school, learning how to write, working your way up in a little paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/journalism-today-is-obviously-in-a-major-transition-going-to/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) [Explore all 142 Gail Sheehy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a pathfinder is to be willing to risk failure and still go on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gail Sheehy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-risk-failure-and-still-go-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-risk-failure-and-still-go-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/gail-sheehy-3031_being_being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-r_2550233.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/gail-sheehy-3031_being_being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-r_2550233.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/gail-sheehy-3031_being_being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-r_2550233.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a pathfinder is to be willing to risk failure and still go on.” — Gail Sheehy", "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": "Gail Sheehy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being a pathfinder is to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-risk-failure-and-still-go-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/being-a-pathfinder-is-to-be-willing-to-risk-failure-and-still-go-on/#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 } } ] } ```