Turning away is often preferable to the ache of looking back with remorse. When someone says no, it stings momentarily, but that sting is less painful than the enduring ache of wondering what could have been. Regret, that heavy feeling of missed opportunities, tends to linger longer than the disappointment of rejection in the first place.
Declining a chance might seem like a disappointment in the present, but it guards against the later bitterness of wishing we had seized the opportunity. Saying no upfront might spare us from the weight of wondering about the different paths we could have taken. Regret often carries a sharper sting than the initial sting of being turned down.
The quote captures the wisdom of opting for the unknown of rejection over the heavy burden of regret. It's a reminder to take chances, even if they might lead to rejection, because the pain of rejection tends to fade more quickly than the pain of regret that lingers on.