--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't get anywhere without saying yes." description: "\"You don't get anywhere without saying yes.\" — Joel Stein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/joel-stein-12345_saying-yes_you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-ye_1792620.jpg" --- # You don't get anywhere without saying yes. ![“You don't get anywhere without saying yes.” quote by Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/joel-stein-12345_saying-yes_you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-ye_1792620.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/joel-stein-12345_saying-yes_you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-ye_1792620.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/joel-stein-12345_saying-yes_you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-ye_1792620.jpg) > “You don't get anywhere without saying yes.” [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success often requires openness to opportunities and willingness to agree to new ideas. **In simple terms:** You must say yes to progress. Key Takeaway Embrace opportunities. Themes openness opportunity growth Mood optimistic determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - networking - creative projects - personal development Key Concepts risk-taking decision-making Questions to Reflect On - What opportunities have you ignored? - How can you balance saying yes and setting boundaries? A Different Perspective Saying yes can lead to overcommitment or loss of focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Saying yes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-yes/) ## Related quotes > [“If there's anything I hate, it's someone telling me "don't" without saying why.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-adina/if-there-s-anything-i-hate-it-s-someone-telling-me-don-t-without/) [Shelley Adina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-adina/) > [When you are saying YES to others...Make sure you are not saying NO to yourself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-saying-yes-to-others-make-sure-you-are-not-saying-no-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your capacity to say "No" determines your capacity to say "Yes" to greater things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/your-capacity-to-say-no-determines-your-capacity-to-say-yes-to/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [I've never really done anything to create what has happened. It creates itself. I'm here because it happened. But I didn't do anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-ve-never-really-done-anything-to-create-what-has-happened-it/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [When you start your career, you act in all kinds of movies. You don't pick and choose. But later on, you may feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riya-sen/when-you-start-your-career-you-act-in-all-kinds-of-movies-you-don-t/) [Riya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riya-sen/) > [Fancy the happiness of Pinocchio on finding himself free! Without saying yes or no, he fled from the city and set out on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-collodi/fancy-the-happiness-of-pinocchio-on-finding-himself-free-without/) [Carlo Collodi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-collodi/) > [“Be spontaneous! When was the last time you did something completely out of character? You have to open yourself to trying new things, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-spontaneous-when-was-the-last-time-you-did-something-completely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think sometimes when you come from a conservative background, you want to rebel a little bit. I dropped out of school at 15…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-think-sometimes-when-you-come-from-a-conservative-background-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“A woman saying yes to a date with a man is literally insane and ill-advised, and the whole species' existence counts on them doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/a-woman-saying-yes-to-a-date-with-a-man-is-literally-insane-and-ill/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I'm not going to let fear rule my life. I'd rather be able to know that I've made a choice that's right for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-matarazzo/i-m-not-going-to-let-fear-rule-my-life-i-d-rather-be-able-to-know/) [Heather Matarazzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-matarazzo/) > [To sustain love, a man and a woman must continually be marrying and divorcing, moving with, against, away from, and beyond each other, saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/to-sustain-love-a-man-and-a-woman-must-continually-be-marrying-and/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [“Innovation is not about saying yes to everything. It's about saying NO to all but the most crucial features.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/innovation-is-not-about-saying-yes-to-everything-it-s-about-saying-no/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Purity culture often functions by shaming us for seeking knowledge about our own bodies. Studying even the scientific elements of sexual intercourse can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-anderson/purity-culture-often-functions-by-shaming-us-for-seeking-knowledge/) [Dianna Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-anderson/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More by Joel Stein > [I want to be heavily tied to a city that I write for every week, that knows my stuff and I can interact with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-want-to-be-heavily-tied-to-a-city-that-i-write-for-every-week-that/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I never thought to look at the New York Times one, even though I knew people were pissed off. I've seen YouTube videos from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-never-thought-to-look-at-the-new-york-times-one-even-though-i-knew/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [When wine drinkers tell me they taste notes of cherries, tobacco and rose petals, usually all I can detect is a whole lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/when-wine-drinkers-tell-me-they-taste-notes-of-cherries-tobacco-and/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [When Time got rid of my column, I thought it was all over. It was really sad. And then, I just started pushing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/when-time-got-rid-of-my-column-i-thought-it-was-all-over-it-was/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [ I have some idea that if I pick on \[boy band\] One Direction, I'll get a ton of hate mail, because I know that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-have-some-idea-that-if-i-pick-on-boy-band-one-direction-i-ll-get-a/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I don't read "letters" sections of magazines, but I'll read anyone's blog post about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-don-t-read-letters-sections-of-magazines-but-i-ll-read-anyone-s/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I've definitely written people e-mails telling them I've loved their stories, but that seems more like a professional journalist thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-ve-definitely-written-people-e-mails-telling-them-i-ve-loved-their/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I can't imagine what someone would write that would infuriate me. Maybe if my loved one had died of some disease and someone was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-can-t-imagine-what-someone-would-write-that-would-infuriate-me/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [People would ask if I wanted to host things and I was like, "No, I'm a writer, I don't host things." Just thinking I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/people-would-ask-if-i-wanted-to-host-things-and-i-was-like-no-i-m-a/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I don't like to be in the forest. It's a weird thing. I've learned to have a general appreciation for nature, which has taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-don-t-like-to-be-in-the-forest-it-s-a-weird-thing-i-ve-learned-to/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [Early on, even in college, I figured out that it was just more interesting to me to create content than to write about other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/early-on-even-in-college-i-figured-out-that-it-was-just-more/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I think I realized that Dave Barry was funnier than I'll ever be, and he made no attempt to make any actual points. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-think-i-realized-that-dave-barry-was-funnier-than-i-ll-ever-be-and/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I always thought that being at Time and tweaking your bosses and exploiting your expense account was just fun. Just joyous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-always-thought-that-being-at-time-and-tweaking-your-bosses-and/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I'm not that clued into what people are that touchy about and how many of them there are and how niche these niches are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-m-not-that-clued-into-what-people-are-that-touchy-about-and-how/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) > [I can't imagine deer hunting. I used to think I couldn't imagine deer hunting because killing a deer seemed so awful. But now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/i-can-t-imagine-deer-hunting-i-used-to-think-i-couldn-t-imagine-deer/) [Joel Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) [Explore all 55 Joel Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/) ## More Saying quotes > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [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/) > [“Fine’s a funny word, don’t you think? I don’t think there’s another like it in the English language that says so much while actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/fine-s-a-funny-word-don-t-you-think-i-don-t-think-there-s-another/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [I always think 12 times before saying anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/i-always-think-12-times-before-saying-anything/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“...choose your battles wisely and remember, what the heart knows, walks afar from reason. It simply is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelo-tsanatelis/choose-your-battles-wisely-and-remember-what-the-heart-knows-walks/) [Angelo Tsanatelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelo-tsanatelis/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“Having a child is to show an absolute accord with mankind. If I have a child, it's as though I'm saying: I was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/having-a-child-is-to-show-an-absolute-accord-with-mankind-if-i-have-a/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Oh, but there's such a difference between saying a thing yourself and hearing other people say it,' wailed Anne. 'You may know a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-but-there-s-such-a-difference-between-saying-a-thing-yourself-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [Don't ever sell mankind short by saying there's anything they can't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredric-brown/don-t-ever-sell-mankind-short-by-saying-there-s-anything-they-can-t-do/) [Fredric Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredric-brown/) > [There was a lot of stress and assumptions made without me even saying anything, which was very upsetting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/there-was-a-lot-of-stress-and-assumptions-made-without-me-even-saying/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) Browse all 3,547 Saying quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You don't get anywhere without saying yes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Stein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-yes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Saying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-yes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/joel-stein-12345_saying-yes_you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-ye_1792620.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/joel-stein-12345_saying-yes_you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-ye_1792620.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/joel-stein-12345_saying-yes_you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-ye_1792620.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You don't get anywhere without saying yes.” — Joel Stein", "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": "Joel Stein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-stein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You don't get anywhere without saying...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-yes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-stein/you-don-t-get-anywhere-without-saying-yes/#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 } } ] } ```