Suits is one of the most iconic legal dramas of all time, but it would be nothing without Harvey Specter. For nine seasons, Gabriel Macht played the best closer in New York, oozing charisma in each episode while wearing a perfectly-tailored suit. Although the USA Network original spent its initial run as a sleeper hit, Suits found unexpected success on Netflix and became one of the biggest streaming titles of the decade. As a result, creator Aaron Korsh tried to ride the momentum with Suits LA, but the short-lived spinoff lacked a key element of the original series: Gabriel Macht.

Ironically, the beloved actor did appear for a short mid-season stint, but the real protagonist of Suits LA— Stephen Amell’s Ted Black— paled in comparison to the suave and sexy frontman of the flagship title. To this day, there are very few TV lawyers better than Harvey Specter, and no other Suits character walked the line between style and substance as seamlessly as him. Beyond being an instantly-recognizable character, however, Harvey was truly the unofficial mascot of Suits, as he represented everything the series stood for— for better and for worse.

Harvey Specter’s “You Wanna Lose Small, I Wanna Win Big” Quote, Explained

Suits Season 2 Brought One Of Harvey’s Most Iconic Confrontations

Arguably the first major obstacle Harvey faced in Suits was Travis Tanner (Eric Close), a rival attorney who brought forth the infamous lawsuit against the Pearson-Hardman veteran in season 2. After goading him and rookie Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) for weeks on end, Travis revealed he was building a case against Harvey— more specifically, he planned to accuse Harvey of fraud and have him disbarred.

The lawsuit arc had plenty of masterpiece Suits episodes, but there was always something especially gratifying about Harvey’s scenes with Allison Holt (Diane Neale). The firm hired Holt for the fraud case, but Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) soon realized the defense attorney had one fatal flaw: she didn’t believe in Harvey. According to the aforementioned closer, however, the biggest issue with Allison Holt was her risk management.

Throughout her stint in Suits season 2, Holt’s true goal was to mitigate as much damage as possible, ready to protect the firm even if it meant sacrificing Harvey— and later Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty)— to the proverbial wolves. Instantly, the protagonist understood the “difference” between them as attorneys, and he phrased it perfectly: “You wanna lose small, I wanna win big.”

In the context of the season, its meaning is fairly cut-and-dry. Holt was willing to settle and throw her client under the bus if it meant ending the lawsuit and upholding Pearson-Hardman’s professional reputation, while Harvey wanted to fight to the bitter end, uncaring if it made him a martyr. Within the overarching narrative of the series at large, though, Harvey’s quote perfectly captures what Suits is all about.

Harvey’s Best Line Embodies The True Spirit Of Suits

The USA Network Classic Is All About Ambition & Its High Price

The original cast of Suits was an endearing ensemble of sharks and minnows, but Harvey Specter was always the show’s true mouthpiece. Of course, he was also responsible for the inciting event of the series: hiring Mike and keeping his secret. As such, he often peppered in pearls of wisdom whenever he spoke to his mentee— or, for that matter, any peer he had a modicum of respect for. ​​​​​​​

Regardless, Harvey wanting to “win big” rather than “lose small” isn’t a totally positive mindset. As Suits proved time and time again, even the strongest legal titan can be felled by their own hubris. After all, ambition and drive may be invaluable skills for high-powered lawyers, but they come with a cost; going for broke sometimes means failing spectacularly and potentially losing everything.

Furthermore, at the heart of Harvey’s unforgettable line is the classic dichotomy of risk and reward. Anyone could play it safe, but you don’t get to be the best closer in the city by flying under the radar. As Harvey conveyed to Holt in Suits‘ best line to date, the Pearson-Hardman crew was more than comfortable making waves, regardless of if the tide dragged them in, too.

Release Date

2011 – 2019

Network

USA Network

Showrunner

Aaron Korsh

Directors

Anton Cropper, Michael Smith, Christopher Misiano, Kevin Bray, Roger Kumble, Silver Tree, Cherie Nowlan, John Scott, Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Emile B. Levisetti, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Valerie Weiss, James Whitmore Jr., Jennifer Getzinger, Kate Dennis, Terry McDonough, Maurice Marable, Adam Davidson, David Platt, Dennie Gordon, Gregor Jordan, Julian Holmes, Kate Woods

Writers

Aaron Korsh, Genevieve Sparling, Daniel Arkin, Ethan Drogin, Sharyn Rothstein, Jon Cowan, Erica Lipez, Justin Peacock, Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman, Chris Downey, Garrett Schabb, Kristin Rusk Robinson, Sean Jablonski, Ian Deitchman, Paul Redford, Michael L. Kramer

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  Gabriel Macht

  Harvey Specter

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