"And my father didn't have money for me to go to college. And at that particular time they didn't have black quarterbacks, and I don't think I could have made it in basketball, because I was only 5β² 11". So I just picked baseball."
Willie MaysRead
I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects self-confidence and the belief in one's abilities.
In this quote, Willie Mays expresses a deep sense of self-assurance about his skills as a baseball player. It signifies that true greatness often comes from within, and that one must first believe in their own potential to achieve success. Mays's confidence may inspire others to recognize their own strengths and achievements, as well.
Themes
Self-ConfidenceGreatnessBaseballAchievementSuccess
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to young athletes, to empower them to believe in their own abilities.
More from Willie Mays
All quotes βI remember the last season I played. I went home after a ballgame one day, lay down on my bed, and tears came to my eyes. How can you explain that? It's like crying for your mother after she's gone. You cry because you love her. I cried, I guess, because I loved baseball, and I knew I had to leave it.
Willie MaysRead
Robinson was important to all blacks. To make it into the majors and to take all the name calling, he had to be something special. He had to take all this for years, not just for Jackie Robinson, but for the nation.
Willie MaysRead
I was very fortunate to play sports. All the anger in me went out. I had to do what I had to do. If you stay angry all the time, then you really don't have a good life.
Willie MaysRead
In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Without one-hundred percent dedication, you won't be able to do this.
Willie MaysRead
Defense to me is the key to playing baseball.
Willie MaysRead
Similar quotes
Excellence is never granted to man but as the reward of labor. It argues no small strength of mind to persevere in habits of industry without the pleasure of perceiving those advances, which, like the hand of a clock, whilst they make hourly approaches to their point, yet proceed so slowly as to escape observation.
Joshua ReynoldsRead
Each of us, every day, through the jobs we do, are offered a shot at greatness, an opportunity to reach immortality.
Robin S. SharmaRead
Whatever help we may want from the international community now or in the future, we want to make sure that this help is tailored to help our people to help themselves.
Aung San Suu KyiRead
You don't accomplish much by swimming with the mainstream. Hell, a dead fish can do that.
Kinky FriedmanRead
We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.
Arianna HuffingtonRead
I realized why I can cook for different environments. Because of everything I've gone through growing up. Why can I cook for a Hollywood event without blinking an eye? Because I cooked at the Beverly Hilton and because I moved to Villa Park. Why can I cook for kids on Hollywood Boulevard at night? Because I went through it.
Roy ChoiRead