Sometimes the house is cheating. Sometimes you are just exhausted and need to sleep, not gamble. Know the difference. If the system is broken, run. If you are broken, walk away, rest, and come back.
If you can’t see a path to victory that doesn’t involve a miracle, push your chair back, stand up, and walk to the door. The Gambler
There is a line in that song that we ignore: "Every gambler knows that the secret to survivin’ is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep." Sometimes the house is cheating
Most of us are hoarders. We keep the bad job, the toxic friendship, the failing project, and the broken promise. We keep them because throwing them away feels like admitting defeat. If the system is broken, run
We stay because we have already invested so much. "I can’t quit now," we whisper. "I’m due for a win."
When you fold a bad hand in poker, you don't lose your stack. You lose the blinds —the small mandatory bet you had to put in to sit at the table. You lose a little bit to save a lot.