--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Throughout my career, I always had great…" description: "\"“Throughout my career, I always had great respect for the British Special Air Service, the famed SAS. The SAS motto was “Who Dares Wins.” The motto was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/william-h-mcraven-13570_bin-laden_throughout-my-career-i-always-had-great_1192921.jpg" --- # Throughout my career, I always had great respect for the… ![“Throughout my career, I always had great respect for the British Special Air Service, the famed SAS. The SAS motto was “Who Dares Wins.” The motto was so widely admired that even moments before the bin Laden raid, my Command Sergeant Major, Chris Faris, quoted it to the SEALs preparing for the…” quote by William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/william-h-mcraven-13570_bin-laden_throughout-my-career-i-always-had-great_1192921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/william-h-mcraven-13570_bin-laden_throughout-my-career-i-always-had-great_1192921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/william-h-mcraven-13570_bin-laden_throughout-my-career-i-always-had-great_1192921.jpg) > ““Throughout my career, I always had great respect for the British Special Air Service, the famed SAS. The SAS motto was “Who Dares Wins.” The motto was so widely admired that even moments before the bin Laden raid, my Command Sergeant Major, Chris Faris, quoted it to the SEALs preparing for the mission. To me the motto was more than about how the British special forces operated as a unit; it was about how each of us should approach our lives. Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.”” [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges embracing risk and daring actions, asserting that fear of failure limits personal growth and achievement. **In simple terms:** Take bold risks to discover your true potential. Key Takeaway Dare greatly, push limits. Themes courage risk growth potential resilience Mood determined inspirational Type motivational leadership When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - personal development - team projects - adversity training Key Concepts Psychology of fear leadership military ethos Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back from trying? - How can you balance daring with prudence? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on risk can lead to reckless decisions without proper preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bin laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bin-laden/) [Daring greatly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daring-greatly/) [Fear of failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failure/) [Life is a struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-a-struggle/) [Motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motto/) [Motto British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motto-british-3547473/) [Motto Dares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motto-dares-3547471/) [Pushing Your Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pushing-your-limits-224482/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Sas Motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sas-motto-3547470/) [Special forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-forces/) [Wins Motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wins-motto-3547472/) ## Related quotes > [“Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/life-is-a-struggle-and-the-potential-for-failure-is-ever-present-but/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [“You can't run at your maximum if you're always pushing your limits. Neither can your team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-polnow/you-can-t-run-at-your-maximum-if-you-re-always-pushing-your-limits/) [Diane Polnow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-polnow/) > [“Pushing your limits is what allows you to grow stronger, so if you find yourself feeling passive, it can make sense to dial it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/pushing-your-limits-is-what-allows-you-to-grow-stronger-so-if-you/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [“The challenges you face will test and strengthen you. If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/the-challenges-you-face-will-test-and-strengthen-you-if-you-re-not/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits, and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/if-you-re-not-failing-you-re-not-pushing-your-limits-and-if-you-re/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Failure isn't something to be embarrassed about; it's just proof that you're pushing your limits, trying new things, daring to innovate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/failure-isn-t-something-to-be-embarrassed-about-it-s-just-proof-that/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [“But life is too short not to make a fool out of yourself from time to time. And sometimes you need to make an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-rosmarin/but-life-is-too-short-not-to-make-a-fool-out-of-yourself-from-time-to/) [Abby Rosmarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-rosmarin/) > [“Working hard is not a waste of time, but a state of mind. Keep pushing your limits until you reach the edge. Then be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/working-hard-is-not-a-waste-of-time-but-a-state-of-mind-keep-pushing/) [Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/) > [“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is-actually-in-the-arena-whose-face/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..who errs, who comes short again and again; but who does actually strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is-actually-in-the-arena-who-errs/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Do your best with what you have where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-punch/do-your-best-with-what-you-have-where-you-are/) [Lucy Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-punch/) > [The credit belongs to those of us who are actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/the-credit-belongs-to-those-of-us-who-are-actually-in-the-arena-whose/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Do what you can, with what you have and do it now!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-carver/do-what-you-can-with-what-you-have-and-do-it-now/) [George Washington Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-carver/) > [“In 3 years I would rather say "Wow, that was brave" than "I wonder if...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-robertson/in-3-years-i-would-rather-say-wow-that-was-brave-than-i-wonder-if/) [Danielle Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-robertson/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More by William H. McRaven > [“By 2003, I found myself in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that I was a one-star admiral leading troops in a war zone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/by-2003-i-found-myself-in-combat-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-now-that-i/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/if-you-want-to-change-the-world-start-off-by-making-your-bed/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [As ISIS begins to gain momentum beyond where they already are, it really does create - but you see the surge of refugees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/as-isis-begins-to-gain-momentum-beyond-where-they-already-are-it/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [I am not running with Hillary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/i-am-not-running-with-hillary/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [“The common people and the great men and women are all defined by how they deal with life’s unfairness: Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Stephen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/the-common-people-and-the-great-men-and-women-are-all-defined-by-how/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [ Following is one of the most underrated aspects of leadership… I have seen many a good \[military unit\] underachieve, because someone...thought the commander was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/following-is-one-of-the-most-underrated-aspects-of-leadership-i-have/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [“After the war, Manor returned to New York University and finished his degree in 1947. Later that year he became an instructor at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/after-the-war-manor-returned-to-new-york-university-and-finished-his/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [Petraeus is the finest general I have ever worked for; Holly Petraeus is a great American hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/petraeus-is-the-finest-general-i-have-ever-worked-for-holly-petraeus/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [Nighttime frequently increases alertness, and each mission should consider the ramifications of a night assault. Several of the most successful special operations were conducted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/nighttime-frequently-increases-alertness-and-each-mission-should/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [“for every failure, for every mistake, there were hundreds of successes: hostages rescued, suicide bombers stopped, pirates captured, terrorists killed, and countless lives saved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/for-every-failure-for-every-mistake-there-were-hundreds-of-successes/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [“In life you will face a lot of Circuses. You will pay for your failures. But, if you persevere, if you let those failures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/in-life-you-will-face-a-lot-of-circuses-you-will-pay-for-your/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [“It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/it-is-easy-to-blame-your-lot-in-life-on-some-outside-force-to-stop/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [“You cannot paddle the boat alone. Find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/you-cannot-paddle-the-boat-alone-find-someone-to-share-your-life-with/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [“Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/making-my-bed-correctly-was-not-going-to-be-an-opportunity-for-praise/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [I think ninjas are probably quieter than SEALs, but we are better swimmers, and also better with guns and blowing things up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/i-think-ninjas-are-probably-quieter-than-seals-but-we-are-better/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) [Explore all 50 William H. McRaven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) ## More Bin laden quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I wasn’t like, boo hoo, Bin Laden’s dead, but I wasn’t jumping. America’s a very nationalistic country, and in episodes like that of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scahill/i-wasn-t-like-boo-hoo-bin-laden-s-dead-but-i-wasn-t-jumping-america-s/) [Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scahill/) > [R.I.P Osama Bin Laden - World Hide And Go Seek Champion (2001 - 2011)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/r-i-p-osama-bin-laden-world-hide-and-go-seek-champion-2001-2011/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “\[to Navy SEALs\] Quite frankly, I didn't even want to use you guys, with your dip and velcro and all your gear bullshit. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-owen/to-navy-seals-quite-frankly-i-didn-t-even-want-to-use-you-guys-with/) [Mark Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-owen/) > [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [What makes me angry'is that it wasn't me who revealed that I had been with Osama Bin Laden. I originally denied being involved with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/what-makes-me-angry-is-that-it-wasn-t-me-who-revealed-that-i-had-been/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [Taylor Gang or Die. Obviously Bin Laden didn't choose Taylor Gang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-gang/taylor-gang-or-die-obviously-bin-laden-didn-t-choose-taylor-gang/) [Taylor Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-gang/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [“New Rule: The White House doesn't have to release the dead Bin Laden photos, but don't pretend we can't take it. We've seen pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-the-white-house-doesn-t-have-to-release-the-dead-bin-laden/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [With Benghazi, I don't see anyone saying, 'Hey look, I am overall responsible for this and therefore, I take responsibility for what happened. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/with-benghazi-i-don-t-see-anyone-saying-hey-look-i-am-overall/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [The twin causes Bin Laden invokes are Islam and Arab self-determination, and armies rise to serve him. No need to convert or dogmatize. Believers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/the-twin-causes-bin-laden-invokes-are-islam-and-arab-self/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [Wafah Dufour bin Laden, niece of Osama bin Laden has signed a contract to star in a reality show... called Skating with the Nieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/wafah-dufour-bin-laden-niece-of-osama-bin-laden-has-signed-a-contract/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“It can certainly be misleading to take the attributes of a movement, or the anxieties and contradictions of a moment, and to personalize or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-can-certainly-be-misleading-to-take-the-attributes-of-a-movement/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [None of us, remember, knew that 9/11 was gonna happen. We didn't live in a state of anxiety and fear about Osama Bin Laden.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/none-of-us-remember-knew-that-9-11-was-gonna-happen-we-didn-t-live-in/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Many of us didn't believe in the image of bin Laden as a wandering Old Man of the Mountains, living on plants and insects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/many-of-us-didn-t-believe-in-the-image-of-bin-laden-as-a-wandering/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) [Browse all 566 Bin laden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bin-laden/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Throughout my career, I always had great respect for the British Special Air Service, the famed SAS. 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