---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest risk is the risk of riskless…"
description: "\"The greatest risk is the risk of riskless living.\" — Stephen Covey"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/stephen-covey-339_challenges_the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskles_1925063.png"
---

#  The greatest risk is the risk of riskless living.

![“The greatest risk is the risk of riskless living.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/stephen-covey-339_challenges_the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskles_1925063.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/stephen-covey-339_challenges_the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskles_1925063.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/stephen-covey-339_challenges_the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskles_1925063.png)

> “The greatest risk is the risk of riskless living.”

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

## About This Quote

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

Avoiding risk leads to a stagnant life; embracing uncertainty is essential for growth and fulfillment.

**In simple terms:** Playing it safe can make life boring; taking risks is necessary.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty to grow.

Themes

risk growth comfort zone

Mood

motivational cautionary

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- entrepreneurship
- personal relationships
- creative projects

Key Concepts

psychology personal development philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What risks have you avoided?
- How could risk improve your life?

A Different Perspective

Risk can lead to failure and loss.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Greatest Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-risk-266709/) [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 Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-risk/) [Risk Riskless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-riskless-2979205/) [Riskless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riskless-2979206/) [Riskless Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riskless-living-2979204/)

## Related quotes

> [“The real risk lies in riskless living”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/the-real-risk-lies-in-riskless-living/)

[Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/)

> [The greatest risk one can take is not to take risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onuh-justus-izuchukwu/the-greatest-risk-one-can-take-is-not-to-take-risk/)

[Onuh Justus Izuchukwu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onuh-justus-izuchukwu/)

> [The greatest risk is to risk nothing at all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/the-greatest-risk-is-to-risk-nothing-at-all/)

[Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/)

> [There is no such thing as a riskless hedge against inflation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-fiedler/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-riskless-hedge-against-inflation/)

[Edgar Fiedler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-fiedler/)

> [“You're the greatest risk I've ever taken. And the greatest reward. -- Gideon to Eva”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/you-re-the-greatest-risk-i-ve-ever-taken-and-the-greatest-reward/)

[Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/)

> [In today's rapidly changing world, the people who are not taking risk are the risk takers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/in-today-s-rapidly-changing-world-the-people-who-are-not-taking-risk/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [The risk of working with people you don't respect; the risk of working for a company whose values are incosistent with your own; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-komisar/the-risk-of-working-with-people-you-don-t-respect-the-risk-of-working/)

[Randy Komisar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-komisar/)

> [“Greatest risk of all: to be vulnerable, to allow others to see us as we really are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/greatest-risk-of-all-to-be-vulnerable-to-allow-others-to-see-us-as-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The greatest risk most of us will take in our lifetime is that of repression or denial of basic rights of another person. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/the-greatest-risk-most-of-us-will-take-in-our-lifetime-is-that-of/)

[Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/)

> [The greatest IT risk facing most companies is more prosaic than a catastrophe. It is, simply, overspending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-it-risk-facing-most-companies-is-more-prosaic-than-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The greatest risk to man is not that he aims to high and misses, but that he aims to low and hits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-risk-to-man-is-not-that-he-aims-to-high-and-misses-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My philosophy, in a nutshell, is to wipe out the greatest amount of risk with the least amount of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-patricof/my-philosophy-in-a-nutshell-is-to-wipe-out-the-greatest-amount-of/)

[Alan Patricof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-patricof/)

> [“The choice to avoid risk is the choice to avoid living, and to avoid living is one of the greatest risk of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-choice-to-avoid-risk-is-the-choice-to-avoid-living-and-to-avoid/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [The greatest risk in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing and becomes nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/the-greatest-risk-in-life-is-to-risk-nothing-the-person-who-risks/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [The greatest risk is really to take no risk at all. You've got to go out there, jump off the cliff, and take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-warburton/the-greatest-risk-is-really-to-take-no-risk-at-all-you-ve-got-to-go/)

[Patrick Warburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-warburton/)

## More by Stephen Covey

> [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

[Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

## More Challenges quotes

> [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/)

[Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/)

> [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/)

[Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/)

> [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/)

[Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/)

> [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/)

[Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/)

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/)

[Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/)

> [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/)

[Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/)

> [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/)

[Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/)

> [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/)

[Whitney Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gaskell/)

> [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/)

[Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/)

> [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/)

[Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/)

[Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The greatest risk is the risk of riskless living.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Covey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskless-living/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Challenges"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskless-living/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/stephen-covey-339_challenges_the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskles_1925063.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/stephen-covey-339_challenges_the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskles_1925063.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/stephen-covey-339_challenges_the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskles_1925063.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The greatest risk is the risk of riskless living.” — Stephen Covey",
                "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": "Stephen Covey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The greatest risk is the risk...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskless-living/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-greatest-risk-is-the-risk-of-riskless-living/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
