Best shot Quote by Steven D. Levitt
““But if you are hell-bent on persuading someone, or if your back is truly against the wall, you might as well give it your best shot.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner, 2005
When desperate, give your utmost effort to persuade, even if odds are low.
In simple terms: Give your best when backed into a corner.
Key Takeaway
Act decisively under pressure.
Themes
persuasion
determination
risk
Mood
determined
focused
Type
motivational
strategic
When to use this quote
- sales pitches
- negotiations
- crisis management
- political lobbying
Key Concepts
psychology
strategic communication
Questions to Reflect On
- What stakes make you push harder?
- How do you balance effort with realistic outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Success may still be unlikely despite effort.
![“[...]if you are hoping to damage opponents' mental health, go ahead and tell them how inferior or dim-witted or nasty they are. But even if you are certifiably right on every point, you should not think for a minute that you will ever be able to persuade them. Name-calling will make you an enemy…” quote by Steven D. Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e9/steven-d-levitt-5284_first-place_if-you-are-hoping-to-damage-opponents-me_193482.jpg)
![“The debate was a chance for senator [Bernie] Sanders to have a game-changing moment to recapture the news cycle and build momentum going into 2016 and he took his best shot at having a moment.” quote by Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e6a/melissa-harris-perry-10452_bernie-sanders_the-debate-was-a-chance-for-senator-bern_81018.jpg)