---
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"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/peter-drucker-393_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_1537886.png"
---

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

![“There is the risk you cannot afford to take, and there is the risk you cannot afford not to take.” quote by Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/peter-drucker-393_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_1537886.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/peter-drucker-393_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_1537886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/peter-drucker-393_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_1537886.png)

> “There is the risk you cannot afford to take, and there is the risk you cannot afford not to take.”

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

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Balancing essential risks: some must be taken, others avoided, to achieve success.

**In simple terms:** Take necessary risks, avoid harmful ones.

Key Takeaway

Assess and act on vital risks.

Themes

risk management decision making leadership

Mood

cautious determined

Type

advisory motivational

When to use this quote

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

Key Concepts

strategic planning opportunity cost uncertainty

Questions to Reflect On

- What risk is essential for your growth?
- How do you differentiate essential from non‑essential risks?

A Different Perspective

Risk assessment can be hindered by overconfidence or fear.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford/) [Afford Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford-risk-1274638/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-afford-641723/)

## Related quotes

> [ “There is the risk you cannot afford to take, \[and\] there is the risk you cannot afford not to take. PETER DRUCKER” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you/)

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

> [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-mckay/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [People who don't take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/people-who-don-t-take-risks-generally-make-about-two-big-mistakes-a/)

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

> [But innovation is more than a new method. It is a new view of the universe, as one of risk rather than of chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/but-innovation-is-more-than-a-new-method-it-is-a-new-view-of-the/)

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

> [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/)

> [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 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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

## More by Peter Drucker

> [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/)

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

> [No executive has ever suffered because his subordinates were strong and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-executive-has-ever-suffered-because-his-subordinates-were-strong/)

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

> [Results is all that separates one company from another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/results-is-all-that-separates-one-company-from-another/)

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

> [“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/)

> [Our society has become an employee society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/our-society-has-become-an-employee-society/)

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

> [Replace your pursuit of success with the pursuit of contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/replace-your-pursuit-of-success-with-the-pursuit-of-contribution/)

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

> [Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/management-means-in-the-last-analysis-the-substitution-of-thought-for/)

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

> [Don't try to innovate for the future. Innovate for the present!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/don-t-try-to-innovate-for-the-future-innovate-for-the-present/)

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

> [The critical question is not "How can I achieve?" but "What can I contribute?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-achieve-but-what-can-i/)

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

> [We can say with certainty - or 90% probability - that the new industries that are about to be born will have nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/we-can-say-with-certainty-or-90-probability-that-the-new-industries/)

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

> [When it rains manna from heaven, some people put up an umbrella. Others reach for a big spoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/when-it-rains-manna-from-heaven-some-people-put-up-an-umbrella-others/)

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

> [The enterprise can fulfill its human and social functions only if it prospers as a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-enterprise-can-fulfill-its-human-and-social-functions-only-if-it/)

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

> [The computer actually may have aggravated management's degenerative tendency to focus inward on costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-computer-actually-may-have-aggravated-management-s-degenerative/)

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

> [Nobody can predict the future; the idea is to have a firm grasp of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/nobody-can-predict-the-future-the-idea-is-to-have-a-firm-grasp-of-the/)

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

> [An executive should be a realist; and no one is less realistic than the cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/an-executive-should-be-a-realist-and-no-one-is-less-realistic-than/)

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

[Explore all 603 Peter Drucker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford/)

```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.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Peter Drucker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Afford"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/peter-drucker-393_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_1537886.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/peter-drucker-393_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_1537886.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/peter-drucker-393_afford_there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-t_1537886.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 Drucker",
                "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": "Peter Drucker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is the risk you cannot...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-the-risk-you-cannot-afford-to-take-and-there-is-the-risk-you-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
