Participant first heard this phrase during their first year of college. They found it particularly useful during this time to reflect on their own past choices from childhood, and their regrets of not trying things. They have stated that “Better to have gone out trying” is “like trying something and failing at it is better than not trying at all.”. They continue to use it to step out of their comfort zone, like trying new things or meeting new people.

Analysis: The participant has summed up the meaning of this phrase pretty well. “Better to have gone out trying” is a phrase I think useful to people experiencing a transition in life or before making a huge decision. This is a motivational saying, looking to convince someone to “just go for it!”, as it’s better to try than regret it later.