--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never heard Jack Nicklaus say, 'I'm a…" description: "\"I never heard Jack Nicklaus say, 'I'm a great player,' or Tiger Woods, as a matter of fact. They just get out and do it. And I think that's far more ap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/arnold-palmer-2127_good_i-never-heard-jack-nicklaus-say-i-m-a-gr_1397708.jpg" --- # I never heard Jack Nicklaus say, 'I'm a great player,' or… ![“I never heard Jack Nicklaus say, 'I'm a great player,' or Tiger Woods, as a matter of fact. They just get out and do it. And I think that's far more appealing... than talking about how good you are.” quote by Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/arnold-palmer-2127_good_i-never-heard-jack-nicklaus-say-i-m-a-gr_1397708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/arnold-palmer-2127_good_i-never-heard-jack-nicklaus-say-i-m-a-gr_1397708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/arnold-palmer-2127_good_i-never-heard-jack-nicklaus-say-i-m-a-gr_1397708.jpg) > “I never heard Jack Nicklaus say, 'I'm a great player,' or Tiger Woods, as a matter of fact. They just get out and do it. And I think that's far more appealing... than talking about how good you are.” [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great players let their performance speak, not their words. **In simple terms:** Let actions speak louder than words. Key Takeaway Focus on performance over self‑praise. Themes sports humility performance action Mood inspirational practical Type advice motivational When to use this quote - tournament play - training sessions - public speaking Key Concepts self‑efficacy role modeling confidence building Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance humility and confidence? - When is self‑promotion appropriate? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on action can ignore strategic planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack-nicklaus/) [Matter of fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-of-fact/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nicklaus/) [Nicklaus Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nicklaus-say-4889070/) [Player Tiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-tiger-3357002/) [Tiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiger/) [Tiger woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiger-woods/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody ever heard Jack Nicklaus say "I don't know" about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-miller/nobody-ever-heard-jack-nicklaus-say-i-don-t-know-about-anything/) [Johnny Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-miller/) > [My favorite player is Tiger Woods. I think I can beat Tiger when I'm 20. It's a life goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wie/my-favorite-player-is-tiger-woods-i-think-i-can-beat-tiger-when-i-m/) [Michelle Wie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wie/) > [“Q: Which party had wildest celebration and how did it play out? 1) The 1972 Dolphins Super Bowl watching party for the David Tyree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-simmons-grantland-mailbag-oct-28-2012/q-which-party-had-wildest-celebration-and-how-did-it-play-out-1-the/) [Bill Simmons Grantland Mailbag Oct. 28 2012](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-simmons-grantland-mailbag-oct-28-2012/) > [The first time I ever saw Arnold Palmer, I said, There's a star. The first time I saw Jack Nicklaus, I said, Superstar. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-player/the-first-time-i-ever-saw-arnold-palmer-i-said-there-s-a-star-the/) [Gary Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-player/) > [In the past I feel like when I think about when I've talked with Jack Nicklaus about how he played golf tournaments, he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cantlay/in-the-past-i-feel-like-when-i-think-about-when-i-ve-talked-with-jack/) [Patrick Cantlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cantlay/) > [Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus - especially Arnie - he used to beat my brains out when we were young. In the end, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/arnold-palmer-and-jack-nicklaus-especially-arnie-he-used-to-beat-my/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [Some things cannont possibly happen, because they are both too improbable and too perfect. The U.S. hockey team cannot beat the Russians in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boswell/some-things-cannont-possibly-happen-because-they-are-both-too/) [Thomas Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boswell/) > [I'm not as far along as Jack Nicklaus was at this age, but I'm trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-m-not-as-far-along-as-jack-nicklaus-was-at-this-age-but-i-m-trying/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [Every immortal except Jack Nicklaus has hit a wall and stopped making putts he had to make in order to win. Jack did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/every-immortal-except-jack-nicklaus-has-hit-a-wall-and-stopped-making/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [ The real key to Jack's \[Nicklaus\] success was his fantastic ability to score. His drives sometimes went into the rough, but he could plow… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gardner-dickinson/the-real-key-to-jack-s-nicklaus-success-was-his-fantastic-ability-to/) [Gardner Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gardner-dickinson/) > [I would never deny that Jack Nicklaus is the greatest player who ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-would-never-deny-that-jack-nicklaus-is-the-greatest-player-who-ever/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Jack Nicklaus is playing an entirely different game, and one which I'm not even familiar with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jones/jack-nicklaus-is-playing-an-entirely-different-game-and-one-which-i-m/) [Bobby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jones/) > [Jack Nicklaus learned how to play in major championships and I think that was a massive thing. That was half the battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-rose/jack-nicklaus-learned-how-to-play-in-major-championships-and-i-think/) [Justin Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-rose/) > [ \[Jack Nicklaus\] was the first to bring in course management. He could go to a course and tell you within one stroke what was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/jack-nicklaus-was-the-first-to-bring-in-course-management-he-could-go/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [I did a lot of growing up in 2011. Going out on tour was like being thrown into the deep end of the pool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-korda/i-did-a-lot-of-growing-up-in-2011-going-out-on-tour-was-like-being/) [Jessica Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-korda/) ## More by Arnold Palmer > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [If you're stupid enough to whiff, you should be smart enough to forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/if-you-re-stupid-enough-to-whiff-you-should-be-smart-enough-to-forget/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I would urge the government to allocate more funds toward fighting cancer. My own situation, it made me think. It made me think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-would-urge-the-government-to-allocate-more-funds-toward-fighting/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I’m particularly proud of anything the House and the Senate agree on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-m-particularly-proud-of-anything-the-house-and-the-senate-agree-on/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I love America. I wanted to play golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-love-america-i-wanted-to-play-golf/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I've always been a big thinker that the more international competition that we create through sports the better relationships we'll have with countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-ve-always-been-a-big-thinker-that-the-more-international/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I would not have been able to accomplish a lot of what I did professionally had I not learned to fly myself and owned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-would-not-have-been-able-to-accomplish-a-lot-of-what-i-did/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-ve-always-made-a-total-effort-even-when-the-odds-seemed-entirely/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [You don't go to Palm Springs in the summer unless you're building a golf course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/you-don-t-go-to-palm-springs-in-the-summer-unless-you-re-building-a/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [A lot of tournaments that I can remember I made a few bad shots and I was afraid I would lose the tournament and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/a-lot-of-tournaments-that-i-can-remember-i-made-a-few-bad-shots-and-i/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [ I played with \[Dwight Eisenhower\] on the day after I won the Masters at his request. We became everlasting friends. I was with him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-played-with-dwight-eisenhower-on-the-day-after-i-won-the-masters-at/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I was national amateur champion. I was 24 years old. My father was there, and I couldn't wait to see him, and my mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-was-national-amateur-champion-i-was-24-years-old-my-father-was/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I think I've heard somebody say that I was a well-dressed golfer. I guess that has something to do with the fact that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-think-i-ve-heard-somebody-say-that-i-was-a-well-dressed-golfer-i/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I fly my own airplane, and I have since 1960. I rarely fly anywhere other than my own airplane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-fly-my-own-airplane-and-i-have-since-1960-i-rarely-fly-anywhere/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-most-rewarding-things-you-do-in-life-are-often-the-ones-that-look/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) [Explore all 184 Arnold Palmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) ## More Golf quotes > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I am a millionaire today and my wife deserves all of the credit. Before I met her I was a multi-millionaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-am-a-millionaire-today-and-my-wife-deserves-all-of-the-credit/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [I think one reason people play golf is it allows them to obsess about something other than the daily crap. It takes your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-think-one-reason-people-play-golf-is-it-allows-them-to-obsess-about/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [I don't think you play golf just to make money. I think you're just good at it, and that ends up being a profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cantlay/i-don-t-think-you-play-golf-just-to-make-money-i-think-you-re-just/) [Patrick Cantlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cantlay/) > [A good golfers métier is his or her golfing skill. A great golfers métier is his or her golfing skill, coupled with the mastery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/a-good-golfers-m-tier-is-his-or-her-golfing-skill-a-great-golfers-m/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [It's a great feeling to know that I've played the best golf throughout the season of any of the guys for the second time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/it-s-a-great-feeling-to-know-that-i-ve-played-the-best-golf/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [“Someone’s coming.” Terry McCaleb looked at his wife and then followed her eyes down to the winding road below. He could see the golf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/someone-s-coming-terry-mccaleb-looked-at-his-wife-and-then-followed/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [I think people like players they can relate to. It seems as if people think they know me. I just think I'm an ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-couples/i-think-people-like-players-they-can-relate-to-it-seems-as-if-people/) [Fred Couples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-couples/) > [The interesting thing is that everyone in golf is just nice. You learn a lot about people playing golf: their integrity, how they play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-interesting-thing-is-that-everyone-in-golf-is-just-nice-you-learn/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Being in the fairway, I think the fairways are a little bit more overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-koepka/being-in-the-fairway-i-think-the-fairways-are-a-little-bit-more/) [Brooks Koepka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-koepka/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) [Browse all 3,917 Golf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never heard Jack Nicklaus say, 'I'm a great player,' or Tiger Woods, as a matter of fact. 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