---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is the risk you cannot afford to…"
description: "\"“There is the risk you cannot afford to take, [and] there is the risk you cannot afford not to take. PETER DRUCKER”\" — Julia Cameron"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/julia-cameron-830_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_533370.png"
---

#  There is the risk you cannot afford to take, \[and\] there…

![“There is the risk you cannot afford to take, &#91;and&#93; there is the risk you cannot afford not to take. PETER DRUCKER” quote by Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/julia-cameron-830_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_533370.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/julia-cameron-830_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_533370.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/julia-cameron-830_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_533370.png)

> ““There is the risk you cannot afford to take, \[and\] there is the risk you cannot afford not to take. PETER DRUCKER””

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

## 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 weigh both the risk of action and the risk of inaction, as each carries its own cost.

**In simple terms:** Both taking and avoiding risk have consequences.

Key Takeaway

Evaluate risks before deciding.

Themes

risk decision leadership strategy balance

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

motivational reflective

When to use this quote

- business planning
- personal finance
- career moves
- investment decisions

Key Concepts

cost‑benefit analysis uncertainty opportunity cost

Questions to Reflect On

- What risk could you afford to take now?
- How does fear of missing out influence your choices?

A Different Perspective

Over‑analysis can lead to paralysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/)

## Related quotes

> [There is the risk you cannot afford to take, and there is the risk you cannot afford not to take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you-2/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [“I never advise friends to put money in anything,. said Danny. 'It's a no-win situation - if they make a profit they forget that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/i-never-advise-friends-to-put-money-in-anything-said-danny-it-s-a-no/)

[Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/)

> [Risk no more that you can afford to lose, and also risk enough so that a win is meaningful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/risk-no-more-that-you-can-afford-to-lose-and-also-risk-enough-so-that/)

[Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/)

> [I can afford to take a risk in my life. Only the insecure cannot afford to risk failure. The secure can be honest about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-can-afford-to-take-a-risk-in-my-life-only-the-insecure-cannot/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [I basically learned that you must get out of your losses immediately. It's not merely a matter of how much you can afford to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-mckay/i-basically-learned-that-you-must-get-out-of-your-losses-immediately/)

Randy McKay

> [Leverage can come in many forms. Leverage can be your thoughts.people who win are careful with their thoughts, not saying "I can't do that."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/leverage-can-come-in-many-forms-leverage-can-be-your-thoughts-people/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [Don't risk what you cannot afford to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/don-t-risk-what-you-cannot-afford-to-lose/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [I believe Jeremy Corbyn getting his hands on power is a risk we cannot afford to take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/i-believe-jeremy-corbyn-getting-his-hands-on-power-is-a-risk-we/)

[Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/)

> [I agree with Peter Drucker that the culture and legal systems of the United Statesare especially favorable to shareholder interests, compared to other interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-agree-with-peter-drucker-that-the-culture-and-legal-systems-of-the/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [“The knowledge worker cannot be supervised closely or in detail. He can only be helped. But he must direct himself, and he must direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-perman/the-knowledge-worker-cannot-be-supervised-closely-or-in-detail-he-can/)

[Matt Perman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-perman/)

> [“Peter Drucker suggested the transformation into a post-modern world happened between 1937 and 1957 (when he was writing). He described an as yet "nameless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wikipedia/peter-drucker-suggested-the-transformation-into-a-post-modern-world/)

[Wikipedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wikipedia/)

> [When a change initiative is focused on changing a company's culture directly, it can take five to ten years to accomplish its objective. Company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-champy/when-a-change-initiative-is-focused-on-changing-a-company-s-culture/)

[James A. Champy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-champy/)

> [“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. —Peter Drucker,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-e-knapp/whenever-you-see-a-successful-business-someone-once-made-a-courageous/)

Duane E. Knapp

> [“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. Peter Drucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-nothing-so-useless-as-doing-efficiently-that-which-should/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [“Management is about doing things right; leadership is about doing the right things. Peter Drucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-banfield/management-is-about-doing-things-right-leadership-is-about-doing-the/)

[Richard Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-banfield/)

## More by Julia Cameron

> [All too often, it is audacity and not talent that moves an artist to center stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/all-too-often-it-is-audacity-and-not-talent-that-moves-an-artist-to/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [Fatigue can make it hard to have faith. Too much busyness can make it hard to have faith. Too much of too little solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/fatigue-can-make-it-hard-to-have-faith-too-much-busyness-can-make-it/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [We are not accustomed to thinking that God's will for us and our own inner dreams can coincide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/we-are-not-accustomed-to-thinking-that-god-s-will-for-us-and-our-own/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/what-we-really-want-to-do-is-what-we-are-really-meant-to-do/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [The need to be a great artist makes it hard to be an artist. The need to produce a great work of art makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/the-need-to-be-a-great-artist-makes-it-hard-to-be-an-artist-the-need/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [All of us contain a divine, expressive spark, a creative candle intended to light our path and that of our fellows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/all-of-us-contain-a-divine-expressive-spark-a-creative-candle/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [Possibility is far more frightening than impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/possibility-is-far-more-frightening-than-impossibility/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [Creativity is our true nature; blocks are an unnatural thwarting of a process at once as normal and as miraculous as the blossoming of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/creativity-is-our-true-nature-blocks-are-an-unnatural-thwarting-of-a/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [Just as a good rain clears the air, a good writing day clears the psyche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/just-as-a-good-rain-clears-the-air-a-good-writing-day-clears-the/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [Survival lies in sanity, and sanity lies in paying attention...the capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/survival-lies-in-sanity-and-sanity-lies-in-paying-attention-the/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [Technology teaches passivity. Absorbed in our devices - at any age - we are absorbed in someone else's perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/technology-teaches-passivity-absorbed-in-our-devices-at-any-age-we/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [There's this mythology that parents are supposed to be parents 24/7 and are supposed to be completely fulfilled by their kids. That's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-s-this-mythology-that-parents-are-supposed-to-be-parents-24-7/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/perfectionism-is-not-a-quest-for-the-best-it-is-a-pursuit-of-the/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [I am compassionate. I allow my heart and imagination to embrace the difficulties and concerns of others. While maintaining my own balance, I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/i-am-compassionate-i-allow-my-heart-and-imagination-to-embrace-the/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [All change can be expansive in potential. The choice is ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/all-change-can-be-expansive-in-potential-the-choice-is-ours/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

[Explore all 358 Julia Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

## More Afford quotes

> [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/)

[Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/)

> [Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/just-because-you-can-afford-it-doesn-t-mean-you-should-buy-it/)

[Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/)

> [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-am-not-a-ph-d-in-economics-or-a-doctorate-in-literature-that-i-can/)

[Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/)

> [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/)

[David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/)

> [I was lucky because I got so successful so early, and when you get successful early, then you can afford to be a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-was-lucky-because-i-got-so-successful-so-early-and-when-you-get/)

[Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/)

> [I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-have-crooked-toes-from-wearing-boots-that-didn-t-fit-me-because/)

[Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/)

> [The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they'd like to is because they can't afford to go without their salaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/the-most-common-reason-new-mothers-return-to-work-sooner-than-they-d/)

[Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/)

> [This fatigue can not afford to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa-ali/this-fatigue-can-not-afford-to-do/)

[ISRAA ALI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa-ali/)

> [A good player is a good player, it's just that we cannot afford signings that do not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/a-good-player-is-a-good-player-it-s-just-that-we-cannot-afford/)

[Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/)

> [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/)

[David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/)

> [Unfortunately, some people go to a restaurant, and they aren't really there to enjoy themselves. They're there because they think they deserve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dinicol/unfortunately-some-people-go-to-a-restaurant-and-they-aren-t-really/)

Joe Dinicol

> [Nobody has so many friends that he can afford to lose one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/nobody-has-so-many-friends-that-he-can-afford-to-lose-one/)

[Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/)

> [My earliest memories were when my mom would put me in the plays that she was in because she couldn't afford a babysitter... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/my-earliest-memories-were-when-my-mom-would-put-me-in-the-plays-that/)

[Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/)

> [In Washington journalists can afford to live almost as well as people who work for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-washington-journalists-can-afford-to-live-almost-as-well-as-people/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I'm a little bit tough because I can't afford to get my heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/i-m-a-little-bit-tough-because-i-can-t-afford-to-get-my-heart-broken/)

[Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/)

Browse all 784 Afford quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“There is the risk you cannot afford to take, [and] there is the risk you cannot afford not to take. PETER DRUCKER”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Julia Cameron"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Afford"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/julia-cameron-830_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_533370.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/julia-cameron-830_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_533370.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/julia-cameron-830_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_533370.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is the risk you cannot afford to take, [and] there is the risk you cannot afford not to take. PETER…” — Julia Cameron",
                "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": "Julia Cameron",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“There is the risk you cannot...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
