--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't outwit fate by standing on the…" description: "\"You can't outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing little sidebets about the outcome of life. either you wade in and risk everything you have t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/judith-mcnaught-687_can-t-win_you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the_2680776.png" --- # You can't outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing… ![“You can't outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing little sidebets about the outcome of life. either you wade in and risk everything you have to play the game or you don't play at all. and if u don't play u can't win.” quote by Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/judith-mcnaught-687_can-t-win_you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the_2680776.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/judith-mcnaught-687_can-t-win_you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the_2680776.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/judith-mcnaught-687_can-t-win_you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the_2680776.png) > “You can't outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing little sidebets about the outcome of life. either you wade in and risk everything you have to play the game or you don't play at all. and if u don't play u can't win.” [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must fully engage in life's risks; passive observation prevents success. **In simple terms:** Active participation is required for success. Key Takeaway Engage fully, avoid passivity. Themes risk engagement fate Mood thoughtful determined Type literary motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - entrepreneurship - personal growth Key Concepts active participation life choices Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to fully engage? - When is caution appropriate? A Different Perspective May underestimate consequences of risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daring/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspiring writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring-writing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [“You cannot outwit fate by placing little sidebets on the outcome of life. It's either you wade in and play in order to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-cannot-outwit-fate-by-placing-little-sidebets-on-the-outcome-of/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“You can't outwit fate by trying to stand on the sidelines and place little side bets about the outcome of life. Either you wade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-trying-to-stand-on-the-sidelines-and-place/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“You can't outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing little side bets about the outcome of life. Either you wade in, risk everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the-sidelines-placing-little-2/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [Ignore all hatred and criticism. Live for what you create, and die protecting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/ignore-all-hatred-and-criticism-live-for-what-you-create-and-die/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/so-the-writer-who-breeds-more-words-than-he-needs-is-making-a-chore/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Let others determine your worth and you're already lost, because no one wants people worth more than themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-v-brett/let-others-determine-your-worth-and-you-re-already-lost-because-no/) [Peter V. Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-v-brett/) > [Writers don't retire. I will always be a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/writers-don-t-retire-i-will-always-be-a-writer/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [“The grandest seduction of all is the myth that DOING EVERYTHING BETTER gets us where we want to be. It gets us somewhere, certainly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/the-grandest-seduction-of-all-is-the-myth-that-doing-everything/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [If you show someone something you've written, you give them a sharpened stake, lie down in your coffin, and say, ‘When you’re ready’.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/if-you-show-someone-something-you-ve-written-you-give-them-a/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Read, read read. Read everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/read-read-read-read-everything/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [The only power that exists is inside ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/the-only-power-that-exists-is-inside-ourselves/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [The thing with Superman is that he's completely emotionally open to the reader. Meaning what he tells you is what he's feeling; there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-snyder/the-thing-with-superman-is-that-he-s-completely-emotionally-open-to/) [Scott Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-snyder/) > [I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-would-rather-be-attacked-than-unnoticed-for-the-worst-thing-you-can/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [To acquire true self power you have to feel beneath no one, be immune to criticism and be fearless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/to-acquire-true-self-power-you-have-to-feel-beneath-no-one-be-immune/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Being a writer means taking the leap from listening to saying 'Listen to me'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhumpa-lahiri/being-a-writer-means-taking-the-leap-from-listening-to-saying-listen/) [Jhumpa Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhumpa-lahiri/) ## More by Judith McNaught > [“What, may I ask, does your one truck contain if not gowns?” Inspiration struck, and Elizabeth smiled radiantly. “Something of great value. Priceless value,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/what-may-i-ask-does-your-one-truck-contain-if-not-gowns-inspiration/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“When she was turning the bacon, he came up behind her, his hands settling on her waist as he peered over her shoulder. “That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/when-she-was-turning-the-bacon-he-came-up-behind-her-his-hands/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“At five minutes to five,Jim walked into Mary's office, wearing his gray sweater and balancing four pieces of birthday cake on two plates. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/at-five-minutes-to-five-jim-walked-into-mary-s-office-wearing-his/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“To have him look at her as if she was a piece of office equipment whose presence offended him but whom he was obliged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/to-have-him-look-at-her-as-if-she-was-a-piece-of-office-equipment/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“Am I to assume the Valerie I was introduced to earlier was the Valerie of our greenhouse notes?” He realized his mistake the instant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/am-i-to-assume-the-valerie-i-was-introduced-to-earlier-was-the/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“How ‘bout some coffee?” Jake said as he hurried over to the coffee pot on the stove and filled a mug with the remainder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/how-bout-some-coffee-jake-said-as-he-hurried-over-to-the-coffee-pot/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“He bowed politely to Hortense, who tipped her head toward the elderly gray-haired lady beside her, who seemed to be dozing, her head drooping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/he-bowed-politely-to-hortense-who-tipped-her-head-toward-the-elderly/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“He finished his meeting a few minutes later and almost rudely ejected his business acquaintances from his library, then he went in search of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/he-finished-his-meeting-a-few-minutes-later-and-almost-rudely-ejected/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“When I’m under stress,” he emphasized, sliding the magnificent emerald onto her finger, “I buy everything in sight. It took my last ounce of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/when-i-m-under-stress-he-emphasized-sliding-the-magnificent-emerald/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [Some people feel love in their hearts, Julie. Some of us feel it all way into our souls. We're the ones who can't forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/some-people-feel-love-in-their-hearts-julie-some-of-us-feel-it-all/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“Lady Thornton, how very good of you to find the time to pay us a social call! Would it be too pushing of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/lady-thornton-how-very-good-of-you-to-find-the-time-to-pay-us-a/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“The truth is that I want you. I have always wanted you, and you know that.” “I hate that word,” she burst out, trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/the-truth-is-that-i-want-you-i-have-always-wanted-you-and-you-know/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“In some ways it seemed wrong that he lived here now, in this solitary place. At least part of the time he ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/in-some-ways-it-seemed-wrong-that-he-lived-here-now-in-this-solitary/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“We need to straighten out some personal matters between us. Why don't we do it over dinner tonight?" he suggested. Lauren courteously refused with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/we-need-to-straighten-out-some-personal-matters-between-us-why-don-t/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [she kissed him with all the aching longing that being this close to him evoked; she kissed him in all the ways he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/she-kissed-him-with-all-the-aching-longing-that-being-this-close-to/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) [Explore all 405 Judith McNaught quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) ## More Can't win quotes > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [We can't win the struggle for high standards if we just talk a good game . . . we've got to play a good game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/we-can-t-win-the-struggle-for-high-standards-if-we-just-talk-a-good/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [You can't win 'til you're not afraid to lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-win-til-you-re-not-afraid-to-lose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate games I can't win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/i-hate-games-i-can-t-win/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [Well you can't win the lottery if you don't have a ticket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/well-you-can-t-win-the-lottery-if-you-don-t-have-a-ticket/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [The people that can't win elections, outside of Barack Obama, the people on the Democrat side who cannot win elections, who do not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-people-that-can-t-win-elections-outside-of-barack-obama-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't know how you change that. There's hardly anybody left like me in the Democratic Party in Congress. These districts have been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/i-don-t-know-how-you-change-that-there-s-hardly-anybody-left-like-me/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/oh-the-places-you-ll-go-there-is-fun-to-be-done-there-are-points-to/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Italians can't win the game against you, but you can lose the game against the Italians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/italians-can-t-win-the-game-against-you-but-you-can-lose-the-game/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Self-esteem can’t win you a race if you’re not in shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-zamperini/self-esteem-can-t-win-you-a-race-if-you-re-not-in-shape/) [Louis Zamperini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-zamperini/) > [Certainly the game is rigged. Don't let that stop you; if you don't bet you can't win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/certainly-the-game-is-rigged-don-t-let-that-stop-you-if-you-don-t-bet/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [You can't win for losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/you-can-t-win-for-losing/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Ball so hard that you can't win it. So much money bank can't fit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/ball-so-hard-that-you-can-t-win-it-so-much-money-bank-can-t-fit-it/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [People are already talking about the next presidential election. There's stories all over about who might run. At a recent speech, a prominent Democrat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/people-are-already-talking-about-the-next-presidential-election-there/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [All my life, the naysayers have told me that I can't win because I'm a progressive... because I'm a woman... even because I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-baldwin/all-my-life-the-naysayers-have-told-me-that-i-can-t-win-because-i-m-a/) [Tammy Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-baldwin/) Browse all 156 Can't win quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing little sidebets about the outcome of life. either you wade in and risk everything you have to play the game or you don't play at all. and if u don't play u can't win.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith McNaught" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the-sidelines-placing-little/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can't win" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the-sidelines-placing-little/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/judith-mcnaught-687_can-t-win_you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the_2680776.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/judith-mcnaught-687_can-t-win_you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the_2680776.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61b/judith-mcnaught-687_can-t-win_you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the_2680776.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing little sidebets about the outcome of life. either…” — Judith McNaught", "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": "Judith McNaught", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't outwit fate by standing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the-sidelines-placing-little/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the-sidelines-placing-little/#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 } } ] } ```