---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes it’s better to hold onto what…"
description: "\"“Sometimes it’s better to hold onto what you have, rather than risk what might be.”\" — H.M. Ward"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/h-m-ward-4188_better_sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what_2990195.jpg"
---

#  Sometimes it’s better to hold onto what you have, rather…

![“Sometimes it’s better to hold onto what you have, rather than risk what might be.” quote by H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/h-m-ward-4188_better_sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what_2990195.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/h-m-ward-4188_better_sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what_2990195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/h-m-ward-4188_better_sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what_2990195.jpg)

> ““Sometimes it’s better to hold onto what you have, rather than risk what might be.””

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

## About This Quote

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

Holding onto the familiar can feel safer than risking unknown possibilities.

**In simple terms:** Safety in the familiar versus risk.

Key Takeaway

Consider whether fear is blocking growth.

Themes

security risk comfort change

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal decisions
- financial investments
- relationship choices

Key Concepts

loss aversion risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- What are you avoiding because of fear?
- Is staying safe truly protecting you?

A Different Perspective

Risk can lead to greater reward despite fear.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-hold-1049460/) [Demon-kissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon-kissed-44855/) [Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold/) [Hold Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-risk-4695310/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/)

## Related quotes

> [“You can’t keep it no matter how much you beg. Dragons are not pets, Ivy.” He laughed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/you-can-t-keep-it-no-matter-how-much-you-beg-dragons-are-not-pets-ivy/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“There’s something eternal about love and once it starts, it doesn’t stop. There is no controlling it—love does what it wants when it wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/there-s-something-eternal-about-love-and-once-it-starts-it-doesn-t/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“Love doesn't come along too often. Believe me, I know. When it does, only the foolish let it fade. Even if it is him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/love-doesn-t-come-along-too-often-believe-me-i-know-when-it-does-only/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [You got one shot, one chance, one opportunity to live your life; so don't hold back, risk it all, and live each day as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-got-one-shot-one-chance-one-opportunity-to-live-your-life-so-don/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [If you're improvising with Paul Reiser, man, you'd better hold on tight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-stern/if-you-re-improvising-with-paul-reiser-man-you-d-better-hold-on-tight/)

[Daniel Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-stern/)

> [Sometimes it's better to move on than to hold on to a person who don't understand you. Sometimes your absence will teach that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-it-s-better-to-move-on-than-to-hold-on-to-a-person-who-don/)

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

> [“He's good on the inside, better than anyone. But I'm not enough to hold him together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/he-s-good-on-the-inside-better-than-anyone-but-i-m-not-enough-to-hold/)

[Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/)

> [You often get a better hold upon a problem by going away from it for a time and dismissing it from your mind altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-hall-crane/you-often-get-a-better-hold-upon-a-problem-by-going-away-from-it-for/)

[Frank Hall Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-hall-crane/)

> [When you know you got something good... You better hold on to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/when-you-know-you-got-something-good-you-better-hold-on-to-it/)

[Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/)

> [Sometimes its better to move on than to hold on to a person who doesnt understand you. Sometimes your absence will teach what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/sometimes-its-better-to-move-on-than-to-hold-on-to-a-person-who/)

[Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/)

> [Life might be easier if you give in a little, but it's better if you hold onto something so hard you can't give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/life-might-be-easier-if-you-give-in-a-little-but-it-s-better-if-you/)

[Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/)

> [Never hold anyone by the button or the hand in order to be heard out; for if people are unwilling to hear you, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/never-hold-anyone-by-the-button-or-the-hand-in-order-to-be-heard-out/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [What could be better than to hold your hand out to people less fortunate than you are?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/what-could-be-better-than-to-hold-your-hand-out-to-people-less/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [Better hold the hand for coin, though small, Than lose, for one half a dang, it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/better-hold-the-hand-for-coin-though-small-than-lose-for-one-half-a/)

[Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/)

> [Life is a roller coaster, you better hold on tight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-roller-coaster-you-better-hold-on-tight/)

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

## More by H.M. Ward

> [“What do I do now? I didn't think my heart could break any more than it already has. The pieces still inside of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/what-do-i-do-now-i-didn-t-think-my-heart-could-break-any-more-than-it/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“I've tired so hard to stay away from you, buy your soul is so powerful. It can't be ignored. It calls to me. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/i-ve-tired-so-hard-to-stay-away-from-you-buy-your-soul-is-so-powerful/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“I don't know what to say to fill the silence. I don't know how to fix this. It seems wrong to leave him, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/i-don-t-know-what-to-say-to-fill-the-silence-i-don-t-know-how-to-fix/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“When you find the right person, yeah—this is what it feels like." He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself before taking my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/when-you-find-the-right-person-yeah-this-is-what-it-feels-like-he/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“What kind of married couple uses a pole on their wedding night?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/what-kind-of-married-couple-uses-a-pole-on-their-wedding-night/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“When you said you were giving her a ring, I wanted to make sure she didn't eat it by accident. Who puts a ring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/when-you-said-you-were-giving-her-a-ring-i-wanted-to-make-sure-she/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“You trusted me to do things that terrify you because it's what I needed. I can do the same for you. I can hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/you-trusted-me-to-do-things-that-terrify-you-because-it-s-what-i/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“I'd give up everything for him, but then what? He has no job, I have no money, and we both live in a box.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/i-d-give-up-everything-for-him-but-then-what-he-has-no-job-i-have-no/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“I just wished they'd see Mari, their daughter. I wished they saw how much I liked art and how much I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/i-just-wished-they-d-see-mari-their-daughter-i-wished-they-saw-how/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“The future is always bright; it isn't until you get there that you realize it isn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/the-future-is-always-bright-it-isn-t-until-you-get-there-that-you/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“His shirt is covered in my sorrow and stained with my tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/his-shirt-is-covered-in-my-sorrow-and-stained-with-my-tears/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“Go fuck a monkey, Ferro. I don't have time for you or your fake sincerity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/go-fuck-a-monkey-ferro-i-don-t-have-time-for-you-or-your-fake/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“I can't bullshit you. In all this time, you're the only person I can't fool. It's like you're bullshit-proof.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/i-can-t-bullshit-you-in-all-this-time-you-re-the-only-person-i-can-t/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“My mom thinks I'm the heroine in every book I write... so I'm a demon possessed, call girl, vampire killing, elfin college student who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/my-mom-thinks-i-m-the-heroine-in-every-book-i-write-so-i-m-a-demon/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

> [“Don’t make me climb across this desk and slap you, because I will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/don-t-make-me-climb-across-this-desk-and-slap-you-because-i-will/)

[H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

[Explore all 114 H.M. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

[Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Sometimes it’s better to hold onto what you have, rather than risk what might be.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "H.M. Ward"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what-you-have-rather-than-risk/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what-you-have-rather-than-risk/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/h-m-ward-4188_better_sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what_2990195.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/h-m-ward-4188_better_sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what_2990195.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/h-m-ward-4188_better_sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what_2990195.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes it’s better to hold onto what you have, rather than risk what might be.” — H.M. Ward",
                "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": "H.M. Ward",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Sometimes it’s better to hold onto...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what-you-have-rather-than-risk/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/sometimes-it-s-better-to-hold-onto-what-you-have-rather-than-risk/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
