--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is always a countermove, always an…" description: "\"“There is always a countermove, always an escape or way through. No one said it would be easy and of course the stakes are high, but the path is there ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ryan-holiday-514_stakes-high_there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an_347411.jpg" --- # There is always a countermove, always an escape or way… ![“There is always a countermove, always an escape or way through. No one said it would be easy and of course the stakes are high, but the path is there for those ready to take it.” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ryan-holiday-514_stakes-high_there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an_347411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ryan-holiday-514_stakes-high_there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an_347411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ryan-holiday-514_stakes-high_there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an_347411.jpg) > ““There is always a countermove, always an escape or way through. No one said it would be easy and of course the stakes are high, but the path is there for those ready to take it.”” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When challenges arise, there is always a way forward if you’re prepared to act, despite difficulty and high stakes. **In simple terms:** There’s always a way if you’re ready. Key Takeaway Seek the path and act. Themes resilience strategy determination Mood determined focused Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career crisis - personal setbacks - high‑pressure decisions - conflict resolution Key Concepts Stoicism problem solving Questions to Reflect On - What “countermove” can you identify now? - Are you prepared to take the necessary risks? A Different Perspective Finding a solution often requires significant effort and risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Countermove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countermove-3216293/) [Countermove Escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countermove-escape-3216294/) [Escape Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape-way-3216296/) [Path Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-ready-3216295/) [Stakes High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes-high-281319/) ## Related quotes > [Now that it looks like things are headed on the right path, I'm ready to go back and play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-still/now-that-it-looks-like-things-are-headed-on-the-right-path-i-m-ready/) [Devon Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-still/) > [One thing: you have to walk, and create the way by your walking; you will not find a ready-made path. It is not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-thing-you-have-to-walk-and-create-the-way-by-your-walking-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you drive down there," I said, "he'll just escape the other way. That's what he's counting on. You have to walk down there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/if-you-drive-down-there-i-said-he-ll-just-escape-the-other-way-that-s/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“Books and reading were my escape. A way to leave this world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jani-kay/books-and-reading-were-my-escape-a-way-to-leave-this-world/) [Jani Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jani-kay/) > [It was a great escape for me and it was a way to take a break from what was going on in my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/it-was-a-great-escape-for-me-and-it-was-a-way-to-take-a-break-from/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Escape...had seemed the only way to ease the pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-graham/escape-had-seemed-the-only-way-to-ease-the-pain/) [Heather Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-graham/) > [Because I can't seem to escape it. It's a way for me to address and counter my questions about what it means to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/because-i-can-t-seem-to-escape-it-it-s-a-way-for-me-to-address-and/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“When the stakes are high—I’m talking cataclysmic-level change, success or failure—sometimes you just have to jump, screaming the whole fucking way. I don’t know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/when-the-stakes-are-high-i-m-talking-cataclysmic-level-change-success/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [For me, a great story is one in which the protagonist faces unimaginable odds; where the stakes are high that failure constitutes a disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-boatman/for-me-a-great-story-is-one-in-which-the-protagonist-faces/) [Michael Boatman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-boatman/) > [I have a tendency to check out when the stakes are too high in a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/i-have-a-tendency-to-check-out-when-the-stakes-are-too-high-in-a-movie/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [“For Kyle, thinking can just end up being destructive. It’s like he was always playing chess in his mind against himself for stakes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goode/for-kyle-thinking-can-just-end-up-being-destructive-it-s-like-he-was/) [John Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goode/) > [My history is long, and not much of it is good. I can't erase it, but I'm determined not to make another mistake. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/my-history-is-long-and-not-much-of-it-is-good-i-can-t-erase-it-but-i/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [You cannot love without accepting that there is always a chance of loss or hurt. This is exactly what makes love so powerful, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/you-cannot-love-without-accepting-that-there-is-always-a-chance-of/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [If I'm stepping in to do something I want the stakes to be high. I want people to doubt me, I want the challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hardy/if-i-m-stepping-in-to-do-something-i-want-the-stakes-to-be-high-i/) [Dan Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hardy/) > [For good or for bad, I'm a risk taker. I like high-stakes, high-reward type situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-avenatti/for-good-or-for-bad-i-m-a-risk-taker-i-like-high-stakes-high-reward/) [Michael Avenatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-avenatti/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. Not just the cliched fetching of coffee, but other lowly tasks: taking notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/pretty-much-everyone-s-career-starts-the-same-way-with-grunt-work-not/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The greats - they protect their sleep because it's where the best work comes from. They say no to things. They turn in when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-greats-they-protect-their-sleep-because-it-s-where-the-best-work/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy will be unprepared and consequently there is the fairest prospect of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-little-danger-is-apprehended-the-more-the-enemy-will-be/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More Stakes High quotes > [For good or for bad, I'm a risk taker. I like high-stakes, high-reward type situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-avenatti/for-good-or-for-bad-i-m-a-risk-taker-i-like-high-stakes-high-reward/) [Michael Avenatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-avenatti/) > [If I'm stepping in to do something I want the stakes to be high. I want people to doubt me, I want the challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hardy/if-i-m-stepping-in-to-do-something-i-want-the-stakes-to-be-high-i/) [Dan Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hardy/) > [You cannot love without accepting that there is always a chance of loss or hurt. This is exactly what makes love so powerful, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/you-cannot-love-without-accepting-that-there-is-always-a-chance-of/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [My history is long, and not much of it is good. I can't erase it, but I'm determined not to make another mistake. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/my-history-is-long-and-not-much-of-it-is-good-i-can-t-erase-it-but-i/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“For Kyle, thinking can just end up being destructive. It’s like he was always playing chess in his mind against himself for stakes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goode/for-kyle-thinking-can-just-end-up-being-destructive-it-s-like-he-was/) [John Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goode/) > [I have a tendency to check out when the stakes are too high in a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/i-have-a-tendency-to-check-out-when-the-stakes-are-too-high-in-a-movie/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [For me, a great story is one in which the protagonist faces unimaginable odds; where the stakes are high that failure constitutes a disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-boatman/for-me-a-great-story-is-one-in-which-the-protagonist-faces/) [Michael Boatman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-boatman/) > [“When the stakes are high—I’m talking cataclysmic-level change, success or failure—sometimes you just have to jump, screaming the whole fucking way. I don’t know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/when-the-stakes-are-high-i-m-talking-cataclysmic-level-change-success/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [When the stakes are high, bow down low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/when-the-stakes-are-high-bow-down-low/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I think the stakes are always high when you're an artist of color - to get things right, to get things perfect and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-think-the-stakes-are-always-high-when-you-re-an-artist-of-color-to/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I think the stakes are always high when you're an artist of color - to get things right, to get things perfect and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-think-the-stakes-are-always-high-when-you-re-an-artist-of-color-to-2/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [The stakes are high in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/the-stakes-are-high-in-politics/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [When characters have different goals and are intent on achieving them, conflict results. If the stakes are high and both sides are unyielding, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-frey/when-characters-have-different-goals-and-are-intent-on-achieving-them/) [James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) > [It doesn't work if the bad guys kill his mother's uncle's friend's neighbor's pet dog. You've got to make the stakes high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/it-doesn-t-work-if-the-bad-guys-kill-his-mother-s-uncle-s-friend-s/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [“So don't you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine, and life makes love look hard. The stakes are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/so-don-t-you-worry-your-pretty-little-mind-people-throw-rocks-at/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) [Browse all 33 Stakes High quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes-high-281319/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is always a countermove, always an escape or way through. No one said it would be easy and of course the stakes are high, but the path is there for those ready to take it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Holiday" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an-escape-or-way-through-no-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Stakes High" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an-escape-or-way-through-no-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ryan-holiday-514_stakes-high_there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an_347411.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ryan-holiday-514_stakes-high_there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an_347411.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/ryan-holiday-514_stakes-high_there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an_347411.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is always a countermove, always an escape or way through. No one said it would be easy and of course…” — Ryan Holiday", "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": "Ryan Holiday", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There is always a countermove, always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an-escape-or-way-through-no-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/there-is-always-a-countermove-always-an-escape-or-way-through-no-one/#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 } } ] } ```