Sports betting has its ups and downs, and sometimes an enthusiast just needs to hear a quote to keep them focused. Here are a few quotes that not only sum up what it means to be a bettor, but also remind us of some of the fundamental rules that help us to achieve success.
Interestingly enough, some of these quotes go back to centuries ago, demonstrating just how long betting has been a part of human culture.
Baltasar Gracián y Morales
This Spanish Jesuit priest uttered perhaps the most commonly repeated words in the betting NZ world;
‘Quit while you’re ahead. All the best gamblers do.’
Yes, we are all aware of the risk of pushing odds beyond their reasonable limit, instead of just taking the win while we have the chance. Such risks, of course, are part of what makes betting attractive, but it also pays to remember that there is a time to just take the cash and enjoy a little breather.
Morales, who lived between 1601 and 1658 was a philosopher and writer, producing the widely beloved book The Art of Worldly Wisdom.
Blaise Pascal
Does the name Blaise Pascal sound familiar? It should, he invented the Roulette wheel. Besides this incredible achievement, he was an enormously respected mathematician, inventor, and physicist. His quote is a rather thoughtful one, and is perhaps a touch more accurate than it might seem at first glance.
‘The excitement that a gambler feels when making a bet is equal to the amount he might win, times the probability of winning it.’
Michael Jordan
Jumping into the present day, Michael Jordan made this remark in response to questions about his gambling habit. A gambling habit that he is known to have sunk millions into. Only, of course, when you’re as rich as Michael Jordan, a million dollar betting habit should be kept in perspective.
‘I want people to understand, gambling is not a bad thing if you do it in the framework of what it’s meant to be, which is fun and entertainment.’
Thomas Austin Preston
Thomas Austin Preston was a professional Poker player, and found his way into the Poker Hall Of Fame. He earned an incredible reputation in the world of high stakes gambling, not just due to his victories, but also for his thoughtful and open personality. He was responsible for the now well-known quote;
‘Look around the table. If you don’t see a sucker, get up, because you’re the sucker.’
Given that Preston once confessed to losing nearly $200,000 in one night playing Poker, he clearly knows what he is talking about. He has been a sucker from time to time.
Chinese Proverb
Last we have a Chinese proverb that is also considered to be a rudimentary gambling strategy. It goes as follows;
‘If you must play, decide upon three things at the start; the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.’
The proverb dates back as far as 2300 BC, when a popular game of chance involved tiles.