This quote, “He that would fish, must venture his bait,” is a metaphorical way of saying that in order to gain something, one must be willing to risk something. The act of fishing is used as an analogy. A fisherman must be willing to lose or “venture” his bait in the water in order to catch a fish. The bait is the risk the fisherman takes, and the fish is the reward he hopes to gain.

This quote encapsulates the principle of risk and reward, which is a fundamental concept in many areas of life such as business, investment, and personal development. Without taking risks, without venturing our ‘bait’, we cannot hope to ‘catch fish’, or in other words, achieve our goals or make gains.

In the context of today’s world, this idea is very relevant. For instance, in business, an entrepreneur must be willing to risk capital, time, and effort to start a new venture. The entrepreneur’s ‘bait’ is the initial investment and the ‘fish’ is the potential profit and success of the business.

In terms of personal development, this quote could be interpreted as the need to step out of one’s comfort zone in order to grow and achieve personal goals. The ‘bait’ could be the comfort, time, or the fear of failure that one must risk. The ‘fish’ is the personal growth, new skills, or experiences one could gain.

So, the quote is a reminder that risks are a necessary part of progress and achievement. Without venturing something, whether it’s tangible like money or intangible like time or comfort, we cannot hope to gain anything in return. It’s a call to action to be brave, to take calculated risks, and to understand that success often requires some level of initial sacrifice.