--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Achievement must be made against the…" description: "\"Achievement must be made against the possibility of failure, against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/ray-kroc-3141_achievement_achievement-must-be-made-against-the-pos_608558.jpg" --- # Achievement must be made against the possibility of… ![“Achievement must be made against the possibility of failure, against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floor. Where there is no risk, there can be no pride in achievement and, consequently, no happiness. The only way we can advance is by going forward…” quote by Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/ray-kroc-3141_achievement_achievement-must-be-made-against-the-pos_608558.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/ray-kroc-3141_achievement_achievement-must-be-made-against-the-pos_608558.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/ray-kroc-3141_achievement_achievement-must-be-made-against-the-pos_608558.jpg) > “Achievement must be made against the possibility of failure, against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floor. Where there is no risk, there can be no pride in achievement and, consequently, no happiness. The only way we can advance is by going forward, individually and collectively, in the spirit of the pioneer. We must take the risks involved in our free enterprise system. This is the only way in the world to economic freedom. There is no other way.” [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires embracing risk; without danger there is no pride or true happiness, and progress depends on daring ventures. **In simple terms:** Risk is essential for achievement and happiness. Key Takeaway Take calculated risks to grow. Themes risk achievement entrepreneurship freedom progress Mood determined optimistic serious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - starting a business - investing - career advancement - innovation - policy making Key Concepts risk tolerance psychology of reward economic freedom Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking? - How do you balance risk and safety? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to loss and may not always be justified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Achievement Consequently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement-consequently-4946985/) [Achievement Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement-possibility-4946986/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-freedom/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-risk-1180678/) [Flats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flats/) [Free enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-enterprise/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Pioneers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pioneers/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-defeat-4946984/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Fear is the most insidious of weaknesses. You must learn to raze it from your soul, or risk defeat in all you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-schafer/fear-is-the-most-insidious-of-weaknesses-you-must-learn-to-raze-it/) [Courtney Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-schafer/) > [You must distinguish sharply between being pro free enterprise and being pro business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/you-must-distinguish-sharply-between-being-pro-free-enterprise-and/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I wanted to be clear that Republicans will continue to be a champion for expanding economic freedom to trade. It is at the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brady/i-wanted-to-be-clear-that-republicans-will-continue-to-be-a-champion/) [Kevin Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brady/) > [You need to put the fear of risk aside. Startups need leaders who are willing to persevere through the hard times. Failure is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-huh/you-need-to-put-the-fear-of-risk-aside-startups-need-leaders-who-are/) [Ben Huh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-huh/) > [Without exposure to potential failure, there is no risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/without-exposure-to-potential-failure-there-is-no-risk/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [There is only one kind of failure I cannot tolerate: the failure to risk failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marcinko/there-is-only-one-kind-of-failure-i-cannot-tolerate-the-failure-to/) [Richard Marcinko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marcinko/) > [“OUR LIVES ARE MADE OF RISKS AND REWARDS. OUR ENDEAVOURS, LOVES, AND HOPES ARE ALL PRONE TO THE GREAT RISK OF FAILURE. YET TO…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-barnes/our-lives-are-made-of-risks-and-rewards-our-endeavours-loves-and/) [Mark T. Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-barnes/) > [“To try is to risk failure. But risk must be taken because the greatest hazard of life is to risk nothing. The person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/to-try-is-to-risk-failure-but-risk-must-be-taken-because-the-greatest/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [We've become a collectivist economy in Illinois. It's crushing us. And no problem is going to get fixed unless we bring more economic freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-rauner/we-ve-become-a-collectivist-economy-in-illinois-it-s-crushing-us-and/) [Bruce Rauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-rauner/) > [“If overpopulation or lack of resources created poverty, then Hong Kong should be poor. Hong Kong has 20 times as many people per square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/if-overpopulation-or-lack-of-resources-created-poverty-then-hong-kong/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/there-is-no-subtler-no-surer-means-of-overturning-the-existing-basis/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-be-of-little-avail-to-the-people-that-the-laws-are-made-by/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Reproductive freedom means economic freedom. And that's what this debate is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degette/reproductive-freedom-means-economic-freedom-and-that-s-what-this/) [Diana DeGette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degette/) ## More by Ray Kroc > [I believe in God, family, and McDonald's. And in the office, that order is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-believe-in-god-family-and-mcdonald-s-and-in-the-office-that-order/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [“The best part of it for me personally was that every time I saw a new Walgreen’s store going up it meant new business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/the-best-part-of-it-for-me-personally-was-that-every-time-i-saw-a-new/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [Creativity is a highfalutin' word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/creativity-is-a-highfalutin-word-for-the-work-i-have-to-do-between/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [“We started Franchise Realty Corporation with $1,000 paid-in capital, and Harry parlayed that cash investment into something like $170 million worth of real estate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/we-started-franchise-realty-corporation-with-1-000-paid-in-capital/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [“One man's famine makes another man's feast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/one-man-s-famine-makes-another-man-s-feast/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [It requires a certain kind of mind to see beauty in a hamburger bun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/it-requires-a-certain-kind-of-mind-to-see-beauty-in-a-hamburger-bun/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [“I was about to lose one of my biggest accounts, Walgreens, the people I had created a tremendous amount of business for and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-was-about-to-lose-one-of-my-biggest-accounts-walgreens-the-people-i/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [If any of my competitors were drowning, I'd stick a hose in their mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/if-any-of-my-competitors-were-drowning-i-d-stick-a-hose-in-their-mouth/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [“One time a McDonald’s operator came to me with the idea he’d dreamed up to cut costs by producing a doughnut-shaped patty. His notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/one-time-a-mcdonald-s-operator-came-to-me-with-the-idea-he-d-dreamed/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [All money means to me is a pride in accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/all-money-means-to-me-is-a-pride-in-accomplishment/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [I wasn't prepared for this big room with clattering typewriters and teletype printers. You could hardly hear yourself think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-wasn-t-prepared-for-this-big-room-with-clattering-typewriters-and/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [There’s almost nothing you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/there-s-almost-nothing-you-can-t-accomplish-if-you-set-your-mind-to-it/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [If any of my competitors were drowning, I'd stick a hose in their mouth and turn on the water. It is ridiculous to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/if-any-of-my-competitors-were-drowning-i-d-stick-a-hose-in-their/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [“the basics have to be stressed over and over. If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase QSC and V…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/the-basics-have-to-be-stressed-over-and-over-if-i-had-a-brick-for/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [No self-respecting pitcher throws the same way to every batter and no self-respecting salesman makes the same pitch to every client.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/no-self-respecting-pitcher-throws-the-same-way-to-every-batter-and-no/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) [Explore all 137 Ray Kroc quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) [Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/) > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Achievement must be made against the possibility of failure, against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat on the floor. 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