You can’t expect to hit the jackpot if you don’t put a few nickels in the machine.

Cast in the language of a slot machine, the line argues that reward requires risk and participation: you cannot reasonably hope for a “jackpot” without first investing something, however small. The “nickels” suggest modest, repeated stakes—time, effort, money, or courage—rather than a single grand gesture. Attributed to Flip Wilson, whose comedy often distilled everyday wisdom into punchy aphorisms, the saying functions as a humorous nudge against passivity and wishful thinking. It also carries an implicit warning: gambling metaphors can glamorize chance, but the underlying point is practical—outcomes generally follow from inputs, and opportunity favors those willing to commit resources.