Annie Duke on the Science of Quitting: Why the Smartest People Walk Away First

What poker, war, and Muhammad Ali teach us about the psychology of quitting — and why it’s the hidden superpower of success.

A poker table with a single chair pushed back, cards left face down — chips stacked but untouched, light streaming in from one side.

We love a good “never give up” story. The soldier who fights to the end. The entrepreneur who maxes out every credit card. The athlete who pushes through pain.

But when I spoke with

Annie Duke

— former professional poker champion and cognitive scientist — she said something that broke my brain a little.

“Sometimes, quitting is the most courageous decision you can make.”

Duke calls it the science of quitting: the discipline of knowing when more effort won’t change the outcome — and having the courage to stop anyway.

Read more to unpack why quitting is not a retreat from purpose. It’s an act of alignment — the moment you choose where and how your effort will truly matter.

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