--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot get an A if you're afraid of…" description: "\"You cannot get an A if you're afraid of getting an F.\" — Quincy Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/quincy-jones-2731_afraid_you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of_343775.jpg" --- # You cannot get an A if you're afraid of getting an F. ![“You cannot get an A if you're afraid of getting an F.” quote by Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/quincy-jones-2731_afraid_you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of_343775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/quincy-jones-2731_afraid_you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of_343775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/quincy-jones-2731_afraid_you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of_343775.jpg) > “You cannot get an A if you're afraid of getting an F.” [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of failure prevents effort; embracing risk allows achievement. **In simple terms:** Fear blocks success; risk leads to achievement. Key Takeaway Take risks, accept possible failure. Themes risk fear achievement Mood motivational cautious Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - studying - career advancement - creative projects - entrepreneurship Key Concepts Growth mindset resilience Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back? - How can you reframe failure? A Different Perspective Risk can cause loss or setbacks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-getting/) [Cannot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannot/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Happy people look young. You’re really afraid of getting older, aren’t you? You should only be afraid of getting less happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/happy-people-look-young-you-re-really-afraid-of-getting-older-aren-t/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [When you like a guy, but don't wanna get in a relationship because you're afraid of getting hurt; don't be. Not all guys are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-like-a-guy-but-don-t-wanna-get-in-a-relationship-because-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I am honestly afraid of getting sucked into Facebook like Stan did on South Park. Mostly cause I hate Yahtzee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cain-s-latrani/i-am-honestly-afraid-of-getting-sucked-into-facebook-like-stan-did-on/) [Cain S. Latrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cain-s-latrani/) > [“I am afraid of getting older...I am afraid of getting married. Spare me from cooking three meals a day — spare me from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-am-afraid-of-getting-older-i-am-afraid-of-getting-married-spare-me/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [There are so many things I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I'm not sure if you would ever understand because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie/there-are-so-many-things-i-wish-i-could-tell-you-but-i-can-t-i-m-not/) [Archie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie/) > [If you're always too afraid of getting hurt again, you'll never be able to give someone else the 100% they deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-always-too-afraid-of-getting-hurt-again-you-ll-never-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She wants to fall in love with you but she's afraid of getting hurt, afraid of lies, and afraid she'll end up with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-wants-to-fall-in-love-with-you-but-she-s-afraid-of-getting-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not afraid of getting hurt, I'm afraid of being alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-afraid-of-getting-hurt-i-m-afraid-of-being-alone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life's too short to hide who you are because you're afraid of getting hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-asher/life-s-too-short-to-hide-who-you-are-because-you-re-afraid-of-getting/) [Lauren Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-asher/) > [People ask me if I'm afraid of getting typecast, but you can't be afraid of that. It's really not up to you. I'm getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/people-ask-me-if-i-m-afraid-of-getting-typecast-but-you-can-t-be/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [The reason I push people away is because I'm afraid of getting hurt again. I know how it feels, and I don't want that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reason-i-push-people-away-is-because-i-m-afraid-of-getting-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I moved around so much when I was younger that I sort of had to have this type of exterior; you know, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cavallari/i-moved-around-so-much-when-i-was-younger-that-i-sort-of-had-to-have/) [Kristin Cavallari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cavallari/) > [I'm not afraid to love. I'm just afraid of not being loved back. And I'm not afraid to try again. I'm just afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-afraid-to-love-i-m-just-afraid-of-not-being-loved-back-and-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I resolve to venture into the city on my own. I look at maps in the library—subway maps, bus maps, and regular maps—and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-feldman/i-resolve-to-venture-into-the-city-on-my-own-i-look-at-maps-in-the/) [Deborah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-feldman/) > [I'm so afraid to like people because I'm afraid of getting hurt and I'm afraid they won't like me back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-afraid-to-like-people-because-i-m-afraid-of-getting-hurt-and-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Quincy Jones > [It's amazing how much trouble you can get in when you don't have anything else to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/it-s-amazing-how-much-trouble-you-can-get-in-when-you-don-t-have/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [It's easy to get next to music theory, especially between your peers and music classes and so forth. You just pay attention. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/it-s-easy-to-get-next-to-music-theory-especially-between-your-peers/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [It slaps your dignity just right. I loved the idea of these proud, dignified black men, and I saw the older ones wounded, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/it-slaps-your-dignity-just-right-i-loved-the-idea-of-these-proud/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I was inspired by a lot of people when I was young. Every band that came through town, to the theater, or the dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-was-inspired-by-a-lot-of-people-when-i-was-young-every-band-that/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [“The tragedy of Tupac is that his untimely passing is representative of too many young black men in this country…If we had lost Oprah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/the-tragedy-of-tupac-is-that-his-untimely-passing-is-representative/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [When you're over the hill, that's when you pick up speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/when-you-re-over-the-hill-that-s-when-you-pick-up-speed/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Imagine what a harmonious world it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/imagine-what-a-harmonious-world-it/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Thank God, 50 years ago I learned that our entire business is all based on two things; a great song and a great story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/thank-god-50-years-ago-i-learned-that-our-entire-business-is-all/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Sidney Poitier and Sidney Lumet were instrumental in helping me get started as the first black composer to get name credit for movie scores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/sidney-poitier-and-sidney-lumet-were-instrumental-in-helping-me-get/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [A person's age can be determined by the degree of pain he experiences when he comes in contact with a new idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/a-person-s-age-can-be-determined-by-the-degree-of-pain-he-experiences/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I met Ray Charles at 14, and he was 16. But he was like a hundred years older than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-met-ray-charles-at-14-and-he-was-16-but-he-was-like-a-hundred-years/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [ I got to trumpet, finally. That's why I love to write for brass, and \[Count\] Basie and \[Frank\] Sinatra and all that stuff, 'cause… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-got-to-trumpet-finally-that-s-why-i-love-to-write-for-brass-and/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I'm never in my life going to do a record that's a tribute to myself. I don't need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-m-never-in-my-life-going-to-do-a-record-that-s-a-tribute-to-myself/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I look back and say, "This must have been somebody else." I am not going to tell you that when I was 4, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-look-back-and-say-this-must-have-been-somebody-else-i-am-not-going/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I was reading Omar Khayyam, Kahlil Gibran, Rumi, L. Ron Hubbard, all sorts of philosophy. Bebop cats are like that. Curious. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-was-reading-omar-khayyam-kahlil-gibran-rumi-l-ron-hubbard-all-sorts/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) [Explore all 151 Quincy Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You cannot get an A if you're afraid of getting an F.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Quincy Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of-getting-an-f/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of-getting-an-f/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/quincy-jones-2731_afraid_you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of_343775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/quincy-jones-2731_afraid_you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of_343775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c46/quincy-jones-2731_afraid_you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of_343775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You cannot get an A if you're afraid of getting an F.” — Quincy Jones", "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": "Quincy Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You cannot get an A if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of-getting-an-f/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/you-cannot-get-an-a-if-you-re-afraid-of-getting-an-f/#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 } } ] } ```