--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether you like it or not, you're a…" description: "\"Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.\" — Ara Parseghian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/ara-parseghian-13101_dames_whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-nati_643864.jpg" --- # Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after… ![“Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.” quote by Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/ara-parseghian-13101_dames_whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-nati_643864.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/ara-parseghian-13101_dames_whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-nati_643864.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/ara-parseghian-13101_dames_whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-nati_643864.jpg) > “Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.” [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public figures become instantly recognizable after brief high‑visibility events, regardless of personal desire. **In simple terms:** Brief fame creates lasting image Key Takeaway Accept visibility, manage reputation Themes celebrity media sports Mood thoughtful neutral Type sports public When to use this quote - public appearances - media interviews - sports leadership Key Concepts public perception branding Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal identity with public image? - What responsibilities come with sudden fame? A Different Perspective Fame can be fleeting and superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dames/) [Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figure/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Games Notre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games-notre-5163356/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-national-1827537/) [National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national/) [National Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-figure-4408918/) [Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl/) [Notre dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notre-dame/) [You like it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-like-it/) ## Related quotes > [That I am a national figure because I was the first person in 192 years to be at once a congressman, black, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/that-i-am-a-national-figure-because-i-was-the-first-person-in-192/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [You don't go to Notre Dame to learn something, you go to Notre Dame to be somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/you-don-t-go-to-notre-dame-to-learn-something-you-go-to-notre-dame-to/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [I noticed the drama majors on campus when I was at Notre Dame. They just seemed to be freer spirits than the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/i-noticed-the-drama-majors-on-campus-when-i-was-at-notre-dame-they/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [My solo travels in Paris have brought many perfect hours of being alone but not a moment of loneliness. People who depend on other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-o-hagan/my-solo-travels-in-paris-have-brought-many-perfect-hours-of-being/) [Andrew O'Hagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-o-hagan/) > [In 1953 there were two ways for an Irish Catholic boy to impress his parents: become a priest or attend Notre Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-donahue/in-1953-there-were-two-ways-for-an-irish-catholic-boy-to-impress-his/) [Phil Donahue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-donahue/) > [I do not believe there is an atheist in the world who would bulldoze Mecca-or Chartres, York Minster or Notre Dame, the Shwe Dagon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-do-not-believe-there-is-an-atheist-in-the-world-who-would-bulldoze/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Those who know Notre Dame, no explanation’s necessary. Those who don’t, no explanation will suffice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/those-who-know-notre-dame-no-explanation-s-necessary-those-who-don-t/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [To a gargoyle on the ramparts of Notre Dame as Esmeralda rides off with Gringoire Quasimodo says. "Why was I not made of stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-a-gargoyle-on-the-ramparts-of-notre-dame-as-esmeralda-rides-off/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [There are two kinds of people in the world, Notre Dame lovers and Notre Dame haters. And, quite frankly, they're both a pain in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-devine/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-the-world-notre-dame-lovers-and/) [Dan Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-devine/) > [National Defense A strong USA defense brought down the Soviet Union. It was Ronald Reagan - first in a speech at Notre Dame University…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/national-defense-a-strong-usa-defense-brought-down-the-soviet-union/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [When you look at the dominance of Notre Dame, the love of Mary in almost every European country, psychologically, had to come from this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/when-you-look-at-the-dominance-of-notre-dame-the-love-of-mary-in/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [I haven't seen the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre. I haven't seen anything. I don't really care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-haven-t-seen-the-eiffel-tower-notre-dame-the-louvre-i-haven-t-seen/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [A few years ago I met an old professor at the University of Notre Dame. Looking back on his long life of teaching, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/a-few-years-ago-i-met-an-old-professor-at-the-university-of-notre/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Growing up under the heavy hand of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, it was drummed into me that attending weekly mass was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/growing-up-under-the-heavy-hand-of-the-school-sisters-of-notre-dame/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I went to Notre Dame. I don't know if that has any relevance, but maybe we all had a little too much philosophy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mapother/i-went-to-notre-dame-i-don-t-know-if-that-has-any-relevance-but-maybe/) [William Mapother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mapother/) ## More by Ara Parseghian > [You know what it takes to win. Just look at my fist. When I make a fist, it's strong and you can't tear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/you-know-what-it-takes-to-win-just-look-at-my-fist-when-i-make-a-fist/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I was a 52-year-old coach. But people don't realize I had 25 years as a head coach. Most coaches my age only had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-was-a-52-year-old-coach-but-people-don-t-realize-i-had-25-years-as/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I remember virtually everything about every loss. And the wins are hardly memorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-remember-virtually-everything-about-every-loss-and-the-wins-are/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The 1973 team is real special. I had never coached against Bear Bryant. Alabama had never played Notre Dame. It was North against South;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-1973-team-is-real-special-i-had-never-coached-against-bear-bryant/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I was accepted as a member of the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notre-dame-was-that-i-was/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I became a head football coach when I was 27 years old at Miami of Ohio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-became-a-head-football-coach-when-i-was-27-years-old-at-miami-of/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/a-good-coach-will-make-his-players-see-what-they-can-be-rather-than/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I don't think I was a miracle man. Neither were Lou Holtz or Frank Leahy. We all found ways to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-don-t-think-i-was-a-miracle-man-neither-were-lou-holtz-or-frank/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The harder you work, the less mistakes you make. The fewer mistakes you make, the better your chances of winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-harder-you-work-the-less-mistakes-you-make-the-fewer-mistakes-you/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [Getting to the top of the mountain is a heck of a lot easier than staying there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/getting-to-the-top-of-the-mountain-is-a-heck-of-a-lot-easier-than/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I've been blessed in many ways, but none of the heights from football can ever compare to the depths you go through when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-ve-been-blessed-in-many-ways-but-none-of-the-heights-from-football/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [If you can hang in games by staying close defensively, then good things can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/if-you-can-hang-in-games-by-staying-close-defensively-then-good/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I've missed the association with players and coaches but haven't missed the recruiting and the travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-ve-missed-the-association-with-players-and-coaches-but-haven-t/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [One of the reasons I never went into pro football was because I wanted my kids to grow up around an academic environment. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/one-of-the-reasons-i-never-went-into-pro-football-was-because-i/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I can't think of anything that's hit me harder in my life than when I learned that three of our youngest grandchildren were diagnosed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-can-t-think-of-anything-that-s-hit-me-harder-in-my-life-than-when-i/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) [Explore all 51 Ara Parseghian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) ## More Dames quotes > [It is something like the way dame Nature gathers round a foreign body an envelope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/it-is-something-like-the-way-dame-nature-gathers-round-a-foreign-body/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [Dames are always pulling a switch on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-andrews/dames-are-always-pulling-a-switch-on-you/) [Dana Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-andrews/) > [You know, a dame with a rod is like a guy with a knitting needle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mainwaring/you-know-a-dame-with-a-rod-is-like-a-guy-with-a-knitting-needle/) [Daniel Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mainwaring/) > [I went to Notre Dame. I don't know if that has any relevance, but maybe we all had a little too much philosophy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mapother/i-went-to-notre-dame-i-don-t-know-if-that-has-any-relevance-but-maybe/) [William Mapother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mapother/) > [Growing up under the heavy hand of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, it was drummed into me that attending weekly mass was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/growing-up-under-the-heavy-hand-of-the-school-sisters-of-notre-dame/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-find-it-easier-to-abstain-than-do-a-little-bit-of-anything-i-m-not/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [A few years ago I met an old professor at the University of Notre Dame. Looking back on his long life of teaching, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/a-few-years-ago-i-met-an-old-professor-at-the-university-of-notre/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I haven't seen the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre. I haven't seen anything. I don't really care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-haven-t-seen-the-eiffel-tower-notre-dame-the-louvre-i-haven-t-seen/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [When you look at the dominance of Notre Dame, the love of Mary in almost every European country, psychologically, had to come from this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/when-you-look-at-the-dominance-of-notre-dame-the-love-of-mary-in/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/dame-poverty-gave-me-my-name-and-pain-godfathered-me/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Dame Edna is that rarest sighting in our time of the absolute comic, an inspired personification of caprice whose comedy answered the primal call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/dame-edna-is-that-rarest-sighting-in-our-time-of-the-absolute-comic/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > [One who can find lemons sweet and grapes sour is ready for Dame Fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/one-who-can-find-lemons-sweet-and-grapes-sour-is-ready-for-dame/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [National Defense A strong USA defense brought down the Soviet Union. It was Ronald Reagan - first in a speech at Notre Dame University…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/national-defense-a-strong-usa-defense-brought-down-the-soviet-union/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I've made a wonderful living playing that theatrical character - the professional brassy dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/i-ve-made-a-wonderful-living-playing-that-theatrical-character-the/) [Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/) > [Every student of comedy should see Dame Edna at least twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/every-student-of-comedy-should-see-dame-edna-at-least-twice/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) [Browse all 96 Dames quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dames/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ara Parseghian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-national-figure-after-five-games/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dames" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-national-figure-after-five-games/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/ara-parseghian-13101_dames_whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-nati_643864.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/ara-parseghian-13101_dames_whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-nati_643864.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/526/ara-parseghian-13101_dames_whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-nati_643864.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.” — Ara Parseghian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ara Parseghian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whether you like it or not,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-national-figure-after-five-games/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-national-figure-after-five-games/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```