--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I can’t afford not to try. I can’t be…" description: "\"“But I can’t afford not to try. I can’t be ranked last.”\" — Veronica Roth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/veronica-roth-66_afford_but-i-can-t-afford-not-to-try-i-can-t-be_2695343.png" --- # But I can’t afford not to try. I can’t be ranked last. ![“But I can’t afford not to try. I can’t be ranked last.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/veronica-roth-66_afford_but-i-can-t-afford-not-to-try-i-can-t-be_2695343.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/veronica-roth-66_afford_but-i-can-t-afford-not-to-try-i-can-t-be_2695343.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/veronica-roth-66_afford_but-i-can-t-afford-not-to-try-i-can-t-be_2695343.png) > ““But I can’t afford not to try. I can’t be ranked last.”” [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Striving for excellence prevents complacency; aim higher. **In simple terms:** Don’t settle for last place. Key Takeaway Push beyond comfort, aim higher. Themes ambition competition self‑improvement growth determination Mood inspirational reflective serious Type self‑help literary When to use this quote - academic pursuits - career advancement - athletic training Key Concepts psychology education career sports Questions to Reflect On - What does “not trying” mean to you? - How can you balance ambition with wellbeing? A Different Perspective Pressure to succeed can cause stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford/) [Afford Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford-try-2690816/) [Ranked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ranked-629756/) [Try Ranked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-ranked-2690818/) ## Related quotes > [Some people might say, 'Can we afford it?' I think that's asking the wrong question... We should instead be asking, 'Can we really afford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lo/some-people-might-say-can-we-afford-it-i-think-that-s-asking-the/) [Andrew Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lo/) > [Most filmmakers can't afford to try something out that doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/most-filmmakers-can-t-afford-to-try-something-out-that-doesn-t-work/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Having guys ranked in front of me that I know that I'm better than, that's always going to drive me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-hopkins/having-guys-ranked-in-front-of-me-that-i-know-that-i-m-better-than/) [DeAndre Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-hopkins/) > [I get the mindset of wanting to work your way up the ladder and fight guys that are ranked, but if you come off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/i-get-the-mindset-of-wanting-to-work-your-way-up-the-ladder-and-fight/) [Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/) > [That's what happens. You knock people out, and then you get people ranked ahead of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/that-s-what-happens-you-knock-people-out-and-then-you-get-people/) [Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/) > [If you want to do something, what does it matter where you are ranked?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalpana-chawla/if-you-want-to-do-something-what-does-it-matter-where-you-are-ranked/) [Kalpana Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalpana-chawla/) > [I've beaten the top-ranked girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-pena/i-ve-beaten-the-top-ranked-girls/) [Julianna Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-pena/) > [There were so many fellows ranked over me I couldn't just whoop them all. I had to out-shadow them by talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-were-so-many-fellows-ranked-over-me-i-couldn-t-just-whoop-them/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I'm not satisfied with being ranked second and third.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/i-m-not-satisfied-with-being-ranked-second-and-third/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) > [I was obsessed with 'Top Spin' for some reason, and I wanted to be the best in the game. I think at one time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/i-was-obsessed-with-top-spin-for-some-reason-and-i-wanted-to-be-the/) [Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/) > [I want these ranked opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/i-want-these-ranked-opponents/) [Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/) > [I just ask all the time for someone ranked. They give me all these people. I smash all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-just-ask-all-the-time-for-someone-ranked-they-give-me-all-these/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [I want to fight anybody ranked above me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-want-to-fight-anybody-ranked-above-me/) [Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/) > [I know where I'm ranked, but I don't look at it that much, I don't study it that much. You really can't look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-know-where-i-m-ranked-but-i-don-t-look-at-it-that-much-i-don-t/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I don't want to fight guys ranked behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gaethje/i-don-t-want-to-fight-guys-ranked-behind-me/) [Justin Gaethje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gaethje/) ## More by Veronica Roth > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More Afford quotes > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/just-because-you-can-afford-it-doesn-t-mean-you-should-buy-it/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-am-not-a-ph-d-in-economics-or-a-doctorate-in-literature-that-i-can/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) > [I was lucky because I got so successful so early, and when you get successful early, then you can afford to be a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-was-lucky-because-i-got-so-successful-so-early-and-when-you-get/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-have-crooked-toes-from-wearing-boots-that-didn-t-fit-me-because/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they'd like to is because they can't afford to go without their salaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/the-most-common-reason-new-mothers-return-to-work-sooner-than-they-d/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [This fatigue can not afford to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa-ali/this-fatigue-can-not-afford-to-do/) [ISRAA ALI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa-ali/) > [A good player is a good player, it's just that we cannot afford signings that do not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/a-good-player-is-a-good-player-it-s-just-that-we-cannot-afford/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [Unfortunately, some people go to a restaurant, and they aren't really there to enjoy themselves. They're there because they think they deserve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dinicol/unfortunately-some-people-go-to-a-restaurant-and-they-aren-t-really/) [Joe Dinicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dinicol/) > [Nobody has so many friends that he can afford to lose one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/nobody-has-so-many-friends-that-he-can-afford-to-lose-one/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [My earliest memories were when my mom would put me in the plays that she was in because she couldn't afford a babysitter... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/my-earliest-memories-were-when-my-mom-would-put-me-in-the-plays-that/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [In Washington journalists can afford to live almost as well as people who work for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-washington-journalists-can-afford-to-live-almost-as-well-as-people/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm a little bit tough because I can't afford to get my heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/i-m-a-little-bit-tough-because-i-can-t-afford-to-get-my-heart-broken/) [Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/) [Browse all 784 Afford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afford/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But I can’t afford not to try. 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