I had started as an average athlete - a normal boy. It took me three years to win a race. I was glad that I endured those three years - that I did not give up.
Emil ZatopekRead
To boast of a performance which I cannot beat is merely stupid vanity. And if I can beat it that means there is nothing special about it. What has passed is already finished with. What I find more interesting is what is still to come.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the futility of vanity and the importance of focusing on future potential rather than past achievements.
Emil Zatopek reflects on the nature of performance and achievement, suggesting that boasting about past successes is pointless if one cannot surpass them. He argues that whether one is better or worse than previous performances should not dictate value; instead, it is the future and the possibilities it holds that truly matter. This perspective encourages a forward-looking mindset, valuing growth and potential over vanity in past accomplishments.
Themes
PerformanceVanityFuturePotentialGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational talk to inspire students to focus on their future goals.
More from Emil Zatopek
All quotes →I didn't know much. It wasn't possible to buy a book about Nurmi, but I found out that in order to be faster over 10,000m, he ran 5,000m many times in training. And to be better at 5,000m, he ran 1,500m many times. And to be better at 1,500m, he ran four times 400m in training.
Emil ZatopekRead
A runner must run with dreams in his heart, not money in his pocket.
Emil ZatopekRead
When a person trains once, nothing happens. When a person forces himself to do a thing a hundred or a thousand times, then he certainly has developed in more ways than physical. Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter either. Then willpower will be no problem.
Emil ZatopekRead
An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head.
Emil ZatopekRead
You can't climb up to the second floor without a ladder. When you set your aim too high and don't fulfill it, then your enthusiasm turns to bitterness. Try for a goal that's reasonable, and then gradually raise it.
Emil ZatopekRead
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