Playing tennis, I didn't tie in my self-worth into winning or losing matches.
Martina NavratilovaRead
I never felt I had anything to hide. I never felt being gay was anything to be ashamed of, so I never felt apologetic. I didn't have issues with it, didn't grow up with any religion, so I didn't have any religious, you know, issues to deal with as far as homosexuality is concerned. So, I accepted it very easily. For me, it wasn't that big a deal.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker embraces their identity without shame or fear, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance.
In this quote, Martina Navratilova expresses a sense of pride and comfort in her sexual orientation. She emphasizes that her acceptance of being gay comes from a lack of shame or religious constraints, which allowed her to live authentically without the burden of societal judgment. This perspective promotes the idea that self-acceptance is vital to personal happiness and courage in the face of societal norms.
Themes
AcceptanceIdentityHomosexualityPrideCourage
In practice
Example use cases
During LGBTQ+ awareness events to encourage self-acceptance.
More from Martina Navratilova
All quotes →I just wanted to play tennis. It wasn't a job. It was an ambition. I knew I could make money at it. I was 18 - old enough to think I could do it, young enough not to consider the consequences.
Martina NavratilovaRead
To those people doubting Serena Williams, writing her off - do not do that to a champion.
Martina NavratilovaRead
I can teach many sports, but obviously, tennis is the one. When you do other sports, you see things from different perspectives: different footwork drills, body positions, angles and geometry. All that stuff is helpful, and so when I do other sports, I can see things, because once you know one sport, then the other sport becomes more clear.
Martina NavratilovaRead
So many athletes are afraid to use their platform to do the right thing and speak what they feel, and that's very depressing. Sure, they are afraid of insulting people and losing money because of it, and everyone wants to make the maximum amount of money in their lifetime. But at the expense of who you are? I don't know. That just wasn't in my DNA.
Martina NavratilovaRead
I am just sorry my own mother had to live under that regime for most of her life. I was lucky. I got out and, 14 years later, Czechoslovakia became a free country. So I feel anger, even fury, at this bloody system that ruined so many people's lives for no reason whatsoever.
Martina NavratilovaRead
Similar quotes
We need courage and strength, a kind of warrior spirit. But the place for this warrior strength is in the heart. We need energy, commitment, and courage not to run from our life nor to cover it over with any philosophy-mate rial or spiritual. We need a warrior’s heart that lets us face our lives directly, our pains and limitations, our joys and possibilities.
Jack KornfieldRead
To anyone out there who has ever been assaulted: You will never be alone. You are never alone. We have your back. I've got your back.
Barack ObamaRead
The difficult thing, the glorious thing, was to be who you really were, even if that person was cruel or dangerous, particularly if cruel and dangerous. There was courage in not distinguishing the animal you happened to be. On the other hand, you had to avoid pretending to be more of an animal than you were: take that path, start exaggerating or faking and you became just another Cubby, just as much of a liar, a hypocrite
J. K. RowlingRead
Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves; its your responsibility
Lady GagaRead
For me, survival is the ability to cope with difficulties, with circumstances, and to overcome them.
Nelson MandelaRead
When the men kill, it is up to us women to fight for the preservation of life.
Clara ZetkinRead