--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can never predict a hit." description: "\"You can never predict a hit.\" — John Gourley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/john-gourley-8080_hit_you-can-never-predict-a-hit-2437334_2437334.jpg" --- # You can never predict a hit. ![“You can never predict a hit.” quote by John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/john-gourley-8080_hit_you-can-never-predict-a-hit-2437334_2437334.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/john-gourley-8080_hit_you-can-never-predict-a-hit-2437334_2437334.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/john-gourley-8080_hit_you-can-never-predict-a-hit-2437334_2437334.jpg) > “You can never predict a hit.” [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Predicting popular success is impossible because hits are unpredictable and depend on many variables. **In simple terms:** You can’t know which song will become a hit. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty in creative outcomes. Themes uncertainty creativity success Mood curious analytical Type reflective pragmatic When to use this quote - music industry - marketing campaigns - product launches Key Concepts probability trend analysis Questions to Reflect On - What factors could increase a work’s chance of success? - How do you balance intuition with data? A Different Perspective Predicting may be over‑simplified; some patterns exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Predict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predict/) [Predict Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predict-hit-356894/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I always predict a knockout. That's what I go for, I hit to hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-manuwa/i-always-predict-a-knockout-that-s-what-i-go-for-i-hit-to-hurt/) [Jimi Manuwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-manuwa/) > [For me, it's just a blessing. It just comes to me. I never tried to hit a homer, or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/for-me-it-s-just-a-blessing-it-just-comes-to-me-i-never-tried-to-hit/) [Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/) > [I never wanted to let go of the opportunity, and so I hit upon 'VIP 2'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhanush/i-never-wanted-to-let-go-of-the-opportunity-and-so-i-hit-upon-vip-2/) [Dhanush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhanush/) > [We went to Japan and stayed an extra day just to go shopping. New York is one of those places where we never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/we-went-to-japan-and-stayed-an-extra-day-just-to-go-shopping-new-york/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Just because you've got a hit doesn't mean you've made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-farr/just-because-you-ve-got-a-hit-doesn-t-mean-you-ve-made-it/) [Tyler Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-farr/) > [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/) > [We are going to see a steady stream, I predict, of Nobel prizes coming out of chemistry and given to women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/we-are-going-to-see-a-steady-stream-i-predict-of-nobel-prizes-coming/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [“Someday soon, say predictive analytics experts, it will be possible for companies to know our tastes and predict our habits better than we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/someday-soon-say-predictive-analytics-experts-it-will-be-possible-for/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Who knows how things will be years from now? Only time will tell. No need to try & predict the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-knows-how-things-will-be-years-from-now-only-time-will-tell-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody can predict the future; the idea is to have a firm grasp of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/nobody-can-predict-the-future-the-idea-is-to-have-a-firm-grasp-of-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [I've learned that you can never predict what will happen to a film. You can never predict if people will love it, if they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-never-predict-what-will-happen-to-a-film/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [“If you want to predict how a politician will act after winning an election, look at how he currently lives and how he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haemin-sunim/if-you-want-to-predict-how-a-politician-will-act-after-winning-an/) [Haemin Sunim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haemin-sunim/) > [The key for scouting is trying to predict when the player is peaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/the-key-for-scouting-is-trying-to-predict-when-the-player-is-peaking/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) ## More by John Gourley > [As an artist, you can't expect a producer to just bring you a record. If you walk in and say, 'I want Kanye West's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/as-an-artist-you-can-t-expect-a-producer-to-just-bring-you-a-record/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [I like the challenge of writing music without being the coolest guy or band in the room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/i-like-the-challenge-of-writing-music-without-being-the-coolest-guy/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [We went to Japan and stayed an extra day just to go shopping. New York is one of those places where we never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/we-went-to-japan-and-stayed-an-extra-day-just-to-go-shopping-new-york/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [We tour, we do the distance from friends and family, not really knowing how to connect with people on the same level. I've understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/we-tour-we-do-the-distance-from-friends-and-family-not-really-knowing/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Some New York bands you'll see rocking Ones or Dunks and things like that, but it is weird that the sneakerhead thing has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/some-new-york-bands-you-ll-see-rocking-ones-or-dunks-and-things-like/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Great musicians need great producers. The Beatles had George Martin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/great-musicians-need-great-producers-the-beatles-had-george-martin/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [It's silly to me to not be positive about rock advancing and growing. Really, we just want rock n' roll to be mainstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/it-s-silly-to-me-to-not-be-positive-about-rock-advancing-and-growing/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [I like work, I like song writing, and I like the history of Atlantic Records. They've sat in the studio with so many artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/i-like-work-i-like-song-writing-and-i-like-the-history-of-atlantic/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Levis are my go-to. Plain crew necks and jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/levis-are-my-go-to-plain-crew-necks-and-jeans/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [We're just nerds that play music. Because we get played on the radio and have a Vitaminwater ad with Aaron Paul dancing on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/we-re-just-nerds-that-play-music-because-we-get-played-on-the-radio/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [There's something about Detroit, man: there's a serious vibe there. It could be that blue-collar, working-class-mentality person who lives out there. There's just something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/there-s-something-about-detroit-man-there-s-a-serious-vibe-there-it/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [The Alaskan summers are one of the most amazing things you can see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/the-alaskan-summers-are-one-of-the-most-amazing-things-you-can-see/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [I bought a book with guitar tabs and forced myself to learn. I would go to school and then come home and sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/i-bought-a-book-with-guitar-tabs-and-forced-myself-to-learn-i-would/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [I love running and good running shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/i-love-running-and-good-running-shoes/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [Mental health is personal for our whole band. As touring musicians, self-care can quickly become make it or break it on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/mental-health-is-personal-for-our-whole-band-as-touring-musicians/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) [Explore all 84 John Gourley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) ## More Hit quotes > [I thought I would be an overnight star when I had a hit record in Brazil with my first album - but things didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-de-burgh/i-thought-i-would-be-an-overnight-star-when-i-had-a-hit-record-in/) [Chris de Burgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-de-burgh/) > [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/) > [It's not until after you've been hit by a car and landed all right that the fear kicks in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/it-s-not-until-after-you-ve-been-hit-by-a-car-and-landed-all-right/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [In my fights, it's not if I get hit; it's when I get hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johny-hendricks/in-my-fights-it-s-not-if-i-get-hit-it-s-when-i-get-hit/) [Johny Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johny-hendricks/) > [Just because you've got a hit doesn't mean you've made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-farr/just-because-you-ve-got-a-hit-doesn-t-mean-you-ve-made-it/) [Tyler Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-farr/) > [I never wanted to let go of the opportunity, and so I hit upon 'VIP 2'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhanush/i-never-wanted-to-let-go-of-the-opportunity-and-so-i-hit-upon-vip-2/) [Dhanush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhanush/) > [For me, it's just a blessing. It just comes to me. I never tried to hit a homer, or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/for-me-it-s-just-a-blessing-it-just-comes-to-me-i-never-tried-to-hit/) [Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/) > [People say that things happen for a reason. So when I hit you up side the head, remember I had a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-say-that-things-happen-for-a-reason-so-when-i-hit-you-up-side/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not involved in too many wars, where I'm just constantly getting hit, hit, hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-masvidal/i-m-not-involved-in-too-many-wars-where-i-m-just-constantly-getting/) [Jorge Masvidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-masvidal/) > [I think a lot of bands have hit songs that don't get the attention that they ever are going to deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-cyrus/i-think-a-lot-of-bands-have-hit-songs-that-don-t-get-the-attention/) [Trace Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-cyrus/) > [I was hit by a car. I almost died. My show was taken away from me. I was frightened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-brennan/i-was-hit-by-a-car-i-almost-died-my-show-was-taken-away-from-me-i-was/) [Eileen Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-brennan/) > [We had to get serious and hit all aspects. We had to graduate. That's what you got to do: reach all people across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quavo/we-had-to-get-serious-and-hit-all-aspects-we-had-to-graduate-that-s/) [Quavo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quavo/) > [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [I am always really buzzed after each performance, and at around one in the morning, Ill hit a brick wall and need to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hattie-morahan/i-am-always-really-buzzed-after-each-performance-and-at-around-one-in/) [Hattie Morahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hattie-morahan/) [Browse all 1,526 Hit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can never predict a hit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Gourley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/you-can-never-predict-a-hit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/you-can-never-predict-a-hit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/john-gourley-8080_hit_you-can-never-predict-a-hit-2437334_2437334.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/john-gourley-8080_hit_you-can-never-predict-a-hit-2437334_2437334.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/john-gourley-8080_hit_you-can-never-predict-a-hit-2437334_2437334.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can never predict a hit.” — John Gourley", "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": "John Gourley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can never predict a hit.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/you-can-never-predict-a-hit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/you-can-never-predict-a-hit/#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 } } ] } ```