--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For most of us the problem isn’t that we…" description: "\"“For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail - it’s just the opposite - we aim too low and succeed.”\" — Ken Robinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/ken-robinson-2219_aim-high_for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we_59040.png" --- # For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and… ![“For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail - it’s just the opposite - we aim too low and succeed.” quote by Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/ken-robinson-2219_aim-high_for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we_59040.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/ken-robinson-2219_aim-high_for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we_59040.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/ken-robinson-2219_aim-high_for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we_59040.png) > ““For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail - it’s just the opposite - we aim too low and succeed.”” [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often set modest goals, leading to easy successes that mask their true potential. **In simple terms:** Underestimating ambition limits growth. Key Takeaway Aim higher to unlock greater achievement. Themes self‑limiting beliefs goal setting potential motivation growth mindset Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational quote advice When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - education - entrepreneurship - team leadership Key Concepts confidence expectations achievement Practical Applications - coaching sessions - goal‑setting workshops Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if you set a more challenging target? - How does low ambition affect long‑term satisfaction? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim high](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim-high/) [Low Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low-succeed-810195/) [Opposite Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-aim-810196/) [Problem Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-isn/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“It's far better to aim high and fall short than aim low and succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-strong/it-s-far-better-to-aim-high-and-fall-short-than-aim-low-and-succeed/) [Mimi Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-strong/) > [It is hard to think of anything which more tragically and clearly exemplifies the phenomenon of good political intentions achieving the precise opposite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-n-wilson/it-is-hard-to-think-of-anything-which-more-tragically-and-clearly/) [A. N. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-n-wilson/) > [Do not be concerned that you might set a target too high and fail. Be concerned that you will set it too low and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/do-not-be-concerned-that-you-might-set-a-target-too-high-and-fail-be/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [“The problem isn't that I've hit rock bottom. The problem is that I haven't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-heller/the-problem-isn-t-that-i-ve-hit-rock-bottom-the-problem-is-that-i/) [Ted Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-heller/) > [Relax. Your problem isn't the worse. People have had similar problems and are still living happily ever after. Yours can't be different. Believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/relax-your-problem-isn-t-the-worse-people-have-had-similar-problems/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“The problem is that he isn't Alex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/the-problem-is-that-he-isn-t-alex/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Lots of times, our main problem isn't our problem. Our biggest problem is our perspective on our problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-furtick/lots-of-times-our-main-problem-isn-t-our-problem-our-biggest-problem/) [Steven Furtick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-furtick/) > [Your problem isn't the problem, it's your attitude about the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/your-problem-isn-t-the-problem-it-s-your-attitude-about-the-problem/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [The problem isn't how to make the world more technological. It's about how to make the world more humane again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maeda/the-problem-isn-t-how-to-make-the-world-more-technological-it-s-about/) [John Maeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maeda/) > [“Many of us know in our hearts that we never really grew up. The problem isn’t that we’re lost or apathetic, narcissistic or materialistic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/many-of-us-know-in-our-hearts-that-we-never-really-grew-up-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [The problem isn't a Congress that won't cut spending or a president who won't raise taxes. The problem is an American public with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-problem-isn-t-a-congress-that-won-t-cut-spending-or-a-president/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Yeah,” Robertson nodded grimly. “It’s the whole problem, isn’t it? People just doing their jobs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-pacy-ski/yeah-robertson-nodded-grimly-it-s-the-whole-problem-isn-t-it-people/) [Krzysztof Pacyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-pacy-ski/) > [“A problem isn't finished just because you've found the right answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ogawa/a-problem-isn-t-finished-just-because-you-ve-found-the-right-answer/) [Yoko Ogawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ogawa/) > [This living in a democracy is a problem, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/this-living-in-a-democracy-is-a-problem-isn-t-it/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“For me -- for pretty much every writer -- the big problem isn't piracy, it's obscurity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/for-me-for-pretty-much-every-writer-the-big-problem-isn-t-piracy-it-s/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) ## More by Ken Robinson > [“Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/shakespeare-s-hamlet-there-is-nothing-either-good-or-bad-but-thinking/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“As humanity becomes more numerous and interwoven, living respectfully with diversity is not just an ethical choice, it is a practical imperative. There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/as-humanity-becomes-more-numerous-and-interwoven-living-respectfully/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [In a world where lifelong employment in the same job is a thing of the past, creativity is not a luxury. It is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/in-a-world-where-lifelong-employment-in-the-same-job-is-a-thing-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Very often, organizations are inflexible because there is too little communication between functions; they are too segregated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/very-often-organizations-are-inflexible-because-there-is-too-little/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Every education system on Earth has the same hierarchy of subjects: at the top are mathematics and languages, then the humanities, and the bottom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/every-education-system-on-earth-has-the-same-hierarchy-of-subjects-at/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“We are all born with extraordinary powers of imagination, intelligence, feeling, intuition, spirituality, and of physical and sensory awareness. (p.9)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/we-are-all-born-with-extraordinary-powers-of-imagination-intelligence/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [You create your life, and you can recreate it, too. In times of economic downturn and uncertainty, it's more important than ever to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/you-create-your-life-and-you-can-recreate-it-too-in-times-of-economic/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“I asked a professor of nanotechnology what they use to measure the unthinkable small distances of nanospace? He said it was the nanometre. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/i-asked-a-professor-of-nanotechnology-what-they-use-to-measure-the/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [We need to eliminate the existing hierarchy of subjects. Elevating some disciplines over others only reinforces outmoded assumptions of industrialism and offends the principle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/we-need-to-eliminate-the-existing-hierarchy-of-subjects-elevating/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Too many people never connect with their true talents and therefore don't know what they are capable of achieving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/too-many-people-never-connect-with-their-true-talents-and-therefore/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [You can't just give someone a creativity injection. You have to create an environment for curiosity and a way to encourage people and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/you-can-t-just-give-someone-a-creativity-injection-you-have-to-create/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn't need to be reformed -- it needs to be transformed. The key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/the-fact-is-that-given-the-challenges-we-face-education-doesn-t-need/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Private imaginings may have no outcomes in the world at all. Creativity does. Being creative involves doing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/private-imaginings-may-have-no-outcomes-in-the-world-at-all/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“Public schools were not only created in the interests of industrialism—they were created in the image of industrialism. In many ways, they reflect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/public-schools-were-not-only-created-in-the-interests-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Passion is the driver of achievement in all fields. Some people love doing things they don't feel they're good at. That may be because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/passion-is-the-driver-of-achievement-in-all-fields-some-people-love/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) [Explore all 170 Ken Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) ## More Aim high quotes > [Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/change-your-attitude-and-gain-some-altitude-believe-me-you-ll-love-it/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You might as well aim high. Why shoot yourself in the foot when you can shoot yourself in the head?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/you-might-as-well-aim-high-why-shoot-yourself-in-the-foot-when-you/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [One of the most powerful forces in the world is the will of men and women who believe in themselves, who dare to hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-devos/one-of-the-most-powerful-forces-in-the-world-is-the-will-of-men-and/) [Richard DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-devos/) > [Aim high. Inspire others to come with you. Equip them. Be ready for challenges. Stay your course!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/aim-high-inspire-others-to-come-with-you-equip-them-be-ready-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God created each of us with different traits and characteristics, but regardless of what they may be, know that He made you perfect and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusta-dejuan-hathaway/god-created-each-of-us-with-different-traits-and-characteristics-but/) [Augusta DeJuan Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusta-dejuan-hathaway/) > [“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greater-danger-for-most-of-us-is-not-that-our-aim-is-too-high-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The sky is the limit... for some people aim higher nothing is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/the-sky-is-the-limit-for-some-people-aim-higher-nothing-is-impossible/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“Some start in life without any leading objective at all; some with a low one; and some aim high—and just in proportion to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-alcott/some-start-in-life-without-any-leading-objective-at-all-some-with-a/) [William A. Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-alcott/) > [Whatever vocation you decide on, track down the best people in the world at doing it and surround yourself with them. Aim high and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/whatever-vocation-you-decide-on-track-down-the-best-people-in-the/) [Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/) > [In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-the-long-run-men-hit-only-what-they-aim-at-therefore-they-had/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When I Woke up this morning. I ask myself 'What are some of secrets of success in life' I found the answer right there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yass/when-i-woke-up-this-morning-i-ask-myself-what-are-some-of-secrets-of/) [YASS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yass/) > [Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die, but long after we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burnham/make-big-plans-aim-high-in-hope-and-work-remembering-that-a-noble/) [Daniel Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-burnham/) > [“When the actions becomes frequent than the words, success becomes heavier than the dreams. Do more, say less.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-the-actions-becomes-frequent-than-the-words-success-becomes/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you wanna fLy lyK An EAGLE, dnt wasTE your Tym swimming wid DUCKS AIM\_HIGH ACT\_HIGHER REACH\_HIGHEST](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swapnil/if-you-wanna-fly-lyk-an-eagle-dnt-waste-your-tym-swimming-wid-ducks/) [Swapnil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swapnil/) > [Confucius say Aim high, not failure, but low aim is crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/confucius-say-aim-high-not-failure-but-low-aim-is-crime/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 196 Aim high quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim-high/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail - it’s just the opposite - we aim too low and succeed.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ken Robinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we-aim-too-high-and-fail-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim high" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we-aim-too-high-and-fail-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/ken-robinson-2219_aim-high_for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we_59040.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/ken-robinson-2219_aim-high_for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we_59040.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d2/ken-robinson-2219_aim-high_for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we_59040.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail - it’s just the opposite - we aim too low and…” — Ken Robinson", "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": "Ken Robinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“For most of us the problem...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we-aim-too-high-and-fail-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/for-most-of-us-the-problem-isn-t-that-we-aim-too-high-and-fail-it-s/#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 } } ] } ```