--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the gamefish swims upstream, But the…" description: "\"Only the gamefish swims upstream, But the sensible fish swims down.\" — Ogden Nash" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/ogden-nash-1286_fish_only-the-gamefish-swims-upstream-but-the_2827488.png" --- # Only the gamefish swims upstream, But the sensible fish… ![“Only the gamefish swims upstream, But the sensible fish swims down.” quote by Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/ogden-nash-1286_fish_only-the-gamefish-swims-upstream-but-the_2827488.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/ogden-nash-1286_fish_only-the-gamefish-swims-upstream-but-the_2827488.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/ogden-nash-1286_fish_only-the-gamefish-swims-upstream-but-the_2827488.png) > “Only the gamefish swims upstream, But the sensible fish swims down.” [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts two fish: one that swims upstream (the gamefish) and one that swims downstream (the sensible fish), implying that daring is less practical. **In simple terms:** Bold actions are risky; sensible actions are safer. Key Takeaway Balance daring with practicality. Themes risk practicality nature Mood playful philosophical Type poetic aphorical When to use this quote - business decisions - personal goals - environmental adaptation Key Concepts biology metaphor strategy Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to go against the current? - How to assess risk versus reward? A Different Perspective May undervalue innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Fish Swims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish-swims-643247/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Gamefish Swims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gamefish-swims-3634055/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Sensible Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible-fish-3634057/) [Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swim/) [Swims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swims-344083/) [Swims Upstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swims-upstream-3634056/) ## Related quotes > [The guerrilla must move amongst the people as a fish swims in the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-guerrilla-must-move-amongst-the-people-as-a-fish-swims-in-the-sea/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [A pelican that is wet walks with a gated limp, but a dry fish swims alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/a-pelican-that-is-wet-walks-with-a-gated-limp-but-a-dry-fish-swims/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [“A pelican that is wet walks with a gaited limp, and the dry fish swims alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/a-pelican-that-is-wet-walks-with-a-gaited-limp-and-the-dry-fish-swims/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [“This wise old whiskery fish swims up to three young fish and goes, 'Morning, boys, how's the water?' and swims away; and the three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/this-wise-old-whiskery-fish-swims-up-to-three-young-fish-and-goes/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [We weren't too stressed out, this morning we just knew that if we had strong, good swims we would be fine, so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-cheverton/we-weren-t-too-stressed-out-this-morning-we-just-knew-that-if-we-had/) [Samantha Cheverton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-cheverton/) > [“It's the colors that will make you stray. They sing to you, the not-blue and the searing light, and no matter how tightly you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-cornwell/it-s-the-colors-that-will-make-you-stray-they-sing-to-you-the-not/) [Betsy Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-cornwell/) > [My whole family swims! You can pretty much say chlorine runs in our veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/my-whole-family-swims-you-can-pretty-much-say-chlorine-runs-in-our/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [If the Earth has a soul, it swims in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolbein-falkeid/if-the-earth-has-a-soul-it-swims-in-you/) [Kolbein Falkeid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolbein-falkeid/) > [Statement: A girl and a boy jump into a river. The boy swims over to the girl and says, "God, it's cold." Question: What's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-downham/statement-a-girl-and-a-boy-jump-into-a-river-the-boy-swims-over-to/) [Jenny Downham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-downham/) > [“Finch swims toward shore and comes walking toward me. I try not to stare at him, dripping wet and naked, so I watch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/finch-swims-toward-shore-and-comes-walking-toward-me-i-try-not-to/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [I can't control what everyone else swims but if all goes well I know there are no limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leisel-jones/i-can-t-control-what-everyone-else-swims-but-if-all-goes-well-i-know/) [Leisel Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leisel-jones/) > [I just get creative with my training. I can be doing swims individually, or with one other person. I can be doing sprints. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stephens/i-just-get-creative-with-my-training-i-can-be-doing-swims/) [Jeremy Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stephens/) > [“One who swims with the tide and not the other side will benefit from the opportunity that flows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/one-who-swims-with-the-tide-and-not-the-other-side-will-benefit-from/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [Everyone has his own reality in which, if one is not too cautious, timid or frightened, one swims. This is the only reality there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/everyone-has-his-own-reality-in-which-if-one-is-not-too-cautious/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“The salmon swims against the current simply because he wants to be like the others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulvio-fiori/the-salmon-swims-against-the-current-simply-because-he-wants-to-be/) [Fulvio Fiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulvio-fiori/) ## More by Ogden Nash > [There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/there-is-only-one-way-to-achieve-happiness-on-this-terrestrial-ball/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [The sky is now indelible ink, The branches reft asunder; But you and I we do not shrink; We love the lovely thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/the-sky-is-now-indelible-ink-the-branches-reft-asunder-but-you-and-i/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [Middle-aged life is merry, and I love to lead it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/middle-aged-life-is-merry-and-i-love-to-lead-it/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [When a lady's erotic life is vexed God knows what God is coming next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/when-a-lady-s-erotic-life-is-vexed-god-knows-what-god-is-coming-next/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“Love is a word that is constantly heard, Hate is a word that is not. Love, I am told, is more precious that gold.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/love-is-a-word-that-is-constantly-heard-hate-is-a-word-that-is-not/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [A husband is a guy who tells you when you've got on too much lipstick and helps you with your girdle when your hips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/a-husband-is-a-guy-who-tells-you-when-you-ve-got-on-too-much-lipstick/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [Marriage is the alliance of two people, one of whom never remembers birthdays and the other never forgets them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/marriage-is-the-alliance-of-two-people-one-of-whom-never-remembers/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [I claim there ain't Another Saint As great as Valentine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/i-claim-there-ain-t-another-saint-as-great-as-valentine/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“Senescence begins And middle-age ends The day your descendants Outnumber your friends”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/senescence-begins-and-middle-age-ends-the-day-your-descendants/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [Poets arent very usefulBecause they aren't consumeful or produceful..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/poets-arent-very-usefulbecause-they-aren-t-consumeful-or-produceful/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [I don't mind their having a lot of money, and I don't care how they employ it, but I do think that they damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/i-don-t-mind-their-having-a-lot-of-money-and-i-don-t-care-how-they/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [To maintain your marriage brimming, with really like in the wedding cup, anytime you are incorrect, admit it each time you're proper, shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/to-maintain-your-marriage-brimming-with-really-like-in-the-wedding/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [No, you never get any fun Out of the things you haven't done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/no-you-never-get-any-fun-out-of-the-things-you-haven-t-done/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“Which the Chicken and Which the Egg? He drinks because she scolds, he thinks; She thinks she scolds because he drinks; And nether will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/which-the-chicken-and-which-the-egg-he-drinks-because-she-scolds-he/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“People can't concentrate properly on blowing other people to pieces if their minds are poisoned by thoughts suitable to the twenty-fifth of December.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/people-can-t-concentrate-properly-on-blowing-other-people-to-pieces/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) [Explore all 261 Ogden Nash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) ## More Fish quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [Fly-fishing for wild trout on quiet waters must be one of the toughest and craziest ways to catch fish ever invented by man, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-voelker/fly-fishing-for-wild-trout-on-quiet-waters-must-be-one-of-the/) [John D. Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-voelker/) > [My kids all do love to hunt and fish. When they get together, I think that's what they get together more for than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/my-kids-all-do-love-to-hunt-and-fish-when-they-get-together-i-think/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [“If this were a fairy tale, this would be the part where the fishboy appears and Diana shoots him through the heart. Because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-moskowitz/if-this-were-a-fairy-tale-this-would-be-the-part-where-the-fishboy/) [Hannah Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-moskowitz/) > [I do not believe in eating fish hot. 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