You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the power of dreams and limitless aspirations in achieving success.
Michael Phelps highlights the importance of dreaming big and not restricting oneself with limitations. He suggests that the extent of one's ambitions can directly influence their achievements, indicating that those who dare to envision greater outcomes can achieve exceptional results.
In practice
In a graduation speech to inspire students to pursue their passions.
I want to be able to look back and say, 'I've done everything I can, and I was successful.' I don't want to look back and say I should have done this or that. I'd like to change things for the younger generation of swimmers coming along.
For so long, I looked at myself as literally a kid who was talented who would go up and down the pool. That's it. Nothing else. Very few people knew who I really was.
I don't want to be the next Mark Spitz; I want to be the first Michael Phelps
There are too many kids who are drowning for lack of water safety. That's something I'd like to do. Teaching kids to live an active lifestyle.
My goal is one Olympic gold medal. Not many people in this world can say, 'I'm an Olympic gold medalist.'
I know it won't be eight medals again. If you want to compare me to that, that's your decision, not mine. I'm going out there to try to accomplish the things that I have in my mind and in my heart.
You start at a young age, going on auditions, and you think you did a good job and expect to get that role, and you don't, and it's a letdown, a disappointment. So you tell yourself to just do the work and disconnect, because you have no control over the outcome.
Don't let anyone make you feel that you don't deserve the good things that happen in your life
Determination is the wake-up call to the human will.
The best pace is a suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.
With care and patience, people may accomplish things which, to an indolent person, would appear impossible.
There are no shortcuts. I approached practices the same way I approached games. You can't turn it on and off like a faucet. I couldn't dog it during practice and then, when I needed that extra push late in the game, expect it to be there. Very few people get anywhere by taking shortcuts.
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