--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot outwit fate by placing little…" description: "\"“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 or you don't play at all.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/judith-mcnaught-687_fate_you-cannot-outwit-fate-by-placing-little_1420621.jpg" --- # You cannot outwit fate by placing little sidebets on the… ![“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 or you don't play at all." - Matthew Farrell” quote by Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/judith-mcnaught-687_fate_you-cannot-outwit-fate-by-placing-little_1420621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/judith-mcnaught-687_fate_you-cannot-outwit-fate-by-placing-little_1420621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/judith-mcnaught-687_fate_you-cannot-outwit-fate-by-placing-little_1420621.jpg) > ““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 or you don't play at all." - Matthew Farrell”” [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. We cannot cheat destiny by making small, cautious bets; we must fully commit or not at all. **In simple terms:** Fate can't be outwitted with tiny bets; commit fully or quit. Key Takeaway Commit fully to your goals. Themes fate commitment risk determination Mood determined serious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - entrepreneurial ventures - personal relationships - financial investments Key Concepts determinism agency risk management Questions to Reflect On - Are you holding back out of fear? - What would full commitment look like? A Different Perspective Small bets may still lead to missed opportunities if not fully engaged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Fate Placing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate-placing-5030447/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Little Sidebets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-sidebets-2579722/) [Outwit Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outwit-fate-2579725/) [Sidebets Outcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidebets-outcome-2579724/) ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-can-t-outwit-fate-by-standing-on-the-sidelines-placing-little/) [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/) > [“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/) > [Fate knows all about you, it knows your fears and your weaknesses and your confidences and strengths, and it can be ready for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lebbon/fate-knows-all-about-you-it-knows-your-fears-and-your-weaknesses-and/) [Tim Lebbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lebbon/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) [Simen Agdestein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simen-agdestein/) > [Fate with impartial hand turns out the doom of high and low; her capacious urn is constantly shaking the names of all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/fate-with-impartial-hand-turns-out-the-doom-of-high-and-low-her/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/) [Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/) > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) ## 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 Fate quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/) [Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/) > [Fate with impartial hand turns out the doom of high and low; her capacious urn is constantly shaking the names of all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/fate-with-impartial-hand-turns-out-the-doom-of-high-and-low-her/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) [Simen Agdestein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simen-agdestein/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. 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