Is "playing it safe" the best way to get the most out of life?

Question

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all— in which case, you fail by default." — J. K. Rowling

Rowling calls out the trap of playing it safe. Failure is part of living; avoiding it means missing life entirely.

Is playing it safe the best way to get the most out of life?

I'm glad I lived my life with gusto and took risks, even if I made mistakes or even got into trouble.

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a ride!'". -- Hunter S. Thompson
This quote emphasizes living life to the fullest, embracing experience, and not being afraid to push boundaries, rather than striving for a safe, uneventful existence.

SotiCoto · Accepted Answer

I'll put it this way: There is no unified standard by which your existence is being graded. There are no official Pass nor Fail grades for life. Your existence, like everyone else's, is completely arbitrary. You're born, you spend a variable number of years converting oxygen into carbon dioxide, food into shit, and ambling about trying to keep being alive... until you die. Then your existence is forgotten.
You will be judged by others based on their own perceptions and biases, not to mention their degree of awareness, but there is little or no consistency to their opinions, and certainly no objectivity to it. And all their judgements are meaningless sooner or later anyway.
So if you want to "play it safe" that is your prerogative. The outcome is no different to living a life of excitement and danger... though it might go on a little longer... and a little longer again than if your mother had just got an abortion. Makes no difference anyway, so pick whatever you want.

WonderingManII · Accepted Answer

I feel like posts like this over simplify things. It's like everyone's life is flat and everyone has the same opportunities and abilities. All you got do is decide how much risk is ok to take. That is not how life is. Some people can do more than others. So the risk factor varies from person to person.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

While I was reading the question Evil Kinevil came to my mind. No matter how many times he crashed and didn't make it safely to the other side, he would keep doing it. I think they said that at one time or another he had brought every bone in his body, but don't quote me.🙂
I believe that when you bring children into the world that you owe it to them to play it safe, because they need you to be here for them. When I became a new Mom, I remember that I wouldn't even ride the huge roller coaster 🎢 in Long Beach because it was old and didn't look safe.
I like to play it safe most of the time but every once in a while I would color outside of the lines!🙂

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

Nothing wrong with taking risks provided you've a safety net when things go wrong.

lightbulb27 · Answer

no... I got that advice... pretty close to "live in a padded cell in your house". That's bad advice. But you gotta make wise decisions.

risk is real and so you should take educated and measurable risks. I've seen people pay the price with their lives, there are forks in the road for some decisions that cannot be undone. When it destroys ones own life it is one thing... when it damages others, it's another.

being an adult is making choices and accepting the risks/rewards/consequences.

Reminds me of a story of a young girl that got a great opportunity to go on a sailboat with some attractive young guys. Who wouldn't take that opportunity to have some fun in the sun? It's only for an hour or so...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YPsLEKPOHzE

Chayce · Answer

How can you be getting the most out of something by playing it safe. If you squeeze an orange 50% or 100%, which one gave you more juice.

jshm2 · Answer

Lol. Rowling is the ultimate "play it safe" - so it's rather rich coming from her!

Life is for living, you will die when you die no matter how much anti-aging shit you take. You will lose what you're destined to lose, no matter how many bribes you pay.

So best take it all head on, than die on your knees.

Ms_Facesitter · Answer

It depends on how "safe" you play it.

nastyb · Answer

Speaking from my experience, if you're not taking risks at all, you aren't actually living. You are living just for the days to go by.

BadApple69 · Answer

We learn more through our failures than we do from our successes!

ChicoFromThe305 · Answer

No but sometimes playing it safe is the smartest choice, mostly when you know the odds aren't in your favor

Sevenpointfive · Answer

safe is okay. i like to play don't be stupid

exitseven · Answer

You only get out of life what you put into it.

Anonymous · Answer

That sounds like a boring life.

Staximus · Answer

Only when it comes to not dying

LiamJHayden · Answer

You might get more life, but will it be the most? Not to me.

dustybiker2 · Answer

Suck this life dry.

Miristheiss · Answer

"FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD"

HДLILБΞУ · Answer

health is important..

Is "playing it safe" the best way to get the most out of life?

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