--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I've already got the main thing…" description: "\"I think I've already got the main thing I've always wanted, which is to be somebody, to have an identify. I'm Althea Gibson, the tennis champion. I hop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/althea-gibson-29594_champion_i-think-i-ve-already-got-the-main-thing_1726499.png" --- # I think I've already got the main thing I've always… ![“I think I've already got the main thing I've always wanted, which is to be somebody, to have an identify. I'm Althea Gibson, the tennis champion. I hope it makes me happy.” quote by Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/althea-gibson-29594_champion_i-think-i-ve-already-got-the-main-thing_1726499.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/althea-gibson-29594_champion_i-think-i-ve-already-got-the-main-thing_1726499.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/althea-gibson-29594_champion_i-think-i-ve-already-got-the-main-thing_1726499.png) > “I think I've already got the main thing I've always wanted, which is to be somebody, to have an identify. I'm Althea Gibson, the tennis champion. I hope it makes me happy.” [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal identity is tied to achievement and recognition, yet true fulfillment comes from self‑acceptance. **In simple terms:** Being known is not the same as being content. Key Takeaway Pursue self‑knowledge beyond external success. Themes identity achievement self‑esteem sports personal growth Mood determined hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career planning - mental health counseling - athlete mentorship - public speaking Key Concepts psychology self‑actualization role models Questions to Reflect On - What does being "somebody" mean to you? - How can you find happiness beyond accolades? A Different Perspective External validation can mask deeper insecurities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/althea-gibson-228766/) [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Gibson Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gibson-tennis-1389353/) [Make me happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-me-happy/) [Somebody Identify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-identify-1389352/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) [Tennis Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis-champion-579456/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-somebody/) ## Related quotes > [We make sure that we continue to educate our youth on who Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-adams/we-make-sure-that-we-continue-to-educate-our-youth-on-who-althea/) [Katrina Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-adams/) > [I was fortunate to have people like Althea Gibson come and speak to me, also Leslie Allen and Arthur Ashe. So I feel obligated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-adams/i-was-fortunate-to-have-people-like-althea-gibson-come-and-speak-to/) [Katrina Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-adams/) > [What is the single most important quality in a tennis champion? I would have to say desire, staying in there and winning matches when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/what-is-the-single-most-important-quality-in-a-tennis-champion-i/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [The days of a tennis champion as a gender rights leader are over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-eisen/the-days-of-a-tennis-champion-as-a-gender-rights-leader-are-over/) [Rich Eisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-eisen/) > [To be a tennis champion, you have to be inflexible. You have to be stubborn. You have to be arrogant. You have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/to-be-a-tennis-champion-you-have-to-be-inflexible-you-have-to-be/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [I always wanted to be somebody. If I made it, it's half because I was game enough to take a lot of punishment along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-if-i-made-it-it-s-half-because-i-was/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I always wanted to be somebody...If I've made it, it's half because I was game to take a wicked amount of punishment along the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-if-i-ve-made-it-it-s-half-because-i/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realized I should hv been more specific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladygaga/i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-but-now-i-realized-i-should-hv-been/) [Ladygaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladygaga/) > [I wanted somebody who had a heart and a soul, because Joe Carroll is soulless. There was nothing in there. He was a vacuum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-wanted-somebody-who-had-a-heart-and-a-soul-because-joe-carroll-is/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [...Had dreams of fancy cars and limos, And all I wanted was somebody to listen to my demo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erick-sermon/had-dreams-of-fancy-cars-and-limos-and-all-i-wanted-was-somebody-to/) [Erick Sermon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erick-sermon/) > [When I was growing up, I always wanted to be somebody else and live somewhere else. I've always felt a little uncomfortable around people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-else-and-live/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Being somebody: it's one of the ideas in life, no? That's what my father made clear to me. The importance of being somebody. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/being-somebody-it-s-one-of-the-ideas-in-life-no-that-s-what-my-father/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [For me, I wanted somebody that got me musically, that understood that I'm an artist and this is who I am. I'm not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-nichols/for-me-i-wanted-somebody-that-got-me-musically-that-understood-that-i/) [Joe Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-nichols/) > [I never wanted to be that fad type of artist. When I looked up to artists, watching TV, I wanted to see somebody. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-never-wanted-to-be-that-fad-type-of-artist-when-i-looked-up-to/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [I started running away when I was five years old. It wasnt until I was an adult that I realized what I really wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-aames/i-started-running-away-when-i-was-five-years-old-it-wasnt-until-i-was/) [Willie Aames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-aames/) ## More by Althea Gibson > [I think I have done enough for sports and made enough of a name for myself to deserve some sort of backing - most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-think-i-have-done-enough-for-sports-and-made-enough-of-a-name-for/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/no-matter-what-accomplishments-you-make-somebody-helped-you/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [Being champion is all well and good, but you can't eat a crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/being-champion-is-all-well-and-good-but-you-can-t-eat-a-crown/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [In sports, you simply aren't considered a real champion until you have defended your title successfully. Winning it once can be a fluke; winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/in-sports-you-simply-aren-t-considered-a-real-champion-until-you-have/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [Shaking hands with the Queen of England was a long way from being forced to sit in the colored section of the bus going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/shaking-hands-with-the-queen-of-england-was-a-long-way-from-being/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I hope that I have accomplished just one thing: that I have been a credit to tennis and my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-hope-that-i-have-accomplished-just-one-thing-that-i-have-been-a/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [“No matter what accomplishments you achieve, somebody helped you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/no-matter-what-accomplishments-you-achieve-somebody-helped-you/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I don't want to be put on a pedestal. I just want to be reasonably successful and live a normal life with all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-don-t-want-to-be-put-on-a-pedestal-i-just-want-to-be-reasonably/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I always wanted to be somebody...If I've made it, it's half because I was game to take a wicked amount of punishment along the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-if-i-ve-made-it-it-s-half-because-i/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [Winning once can be a fluke; winning twice proves you are the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/winning-once-can-be-a-fluke-winning-twice-proves-you-are-the-best/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I always wanted to be somebody. If I made it, it's half because I was game enough to take a lot of punishment along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-if-i-made-it-it-s-half-because-i-was/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [Most of us who aspire to be tops in our fields don't really consider the amount of work required to stay tops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/most-of-us-who-aspire-to-be-tops-in-our-fields-don-t-really-consider/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I don't consciously beat the drums for any cause, not even the negro in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-don-t-consciously-beat-the-drums-for-any-cause-not-even-the-negro/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [In the field of sports you are more or less accepted for what you do rather than what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/in-the-field-of-sports-you-are-more-or-less-accepted-for-what-you-do/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) > [I was nervous and confident at the same, nervous about going out there in front of all those people, with so much at stake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/althea-gibson/i-was-nervous-and-confident-at-the-same-nervous-about-going-out-there/) [Althea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) [Explore all 18 Althea Gibson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/althea-gibson/) ## More Champion quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The truth is the Vintage Vitor never left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/the-truth-is-the-vintage-vitor-never-left/) [Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Winners are born, Champions are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-falcon-scott/winners-are-born-champions-are-made/) [Robert Falcon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-falcon-scott/) > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [To be a champion long-distance runner you have to run on the edge of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toshihiko-seko/to-be-a-champion-long-distance-runner-you-have-to-run-on-the-edge-of/) [Toshihiko Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toshihiko-seko/) > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Browse all 2,649 Champion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I've already got the main thing I've always wanted, which is to be somebody, to have an identify. I'm Althea Gibson, the tennis champion. 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