--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way to be a champion is by going…" description: "\"The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it the torture routine. Because it's li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_arms_the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-goin_83853.jpg" --- # The only way to be a champion is by going through these… ![“The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it the torture routine. Because it's like forced torture. Torturing my body. What helps me is to think of this pain as pleasure. Pain makes me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore…” quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_arms_the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-goin_83853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_arms_the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-goin_83853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b5/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_arms_the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-goin_83853.jpg) > “The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it the torture routine. Because it's like forced torture. Torturing my body. What helps me is to think of this pain as pleasure. Pain makes me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore, for me pain is pleasure. And so when I am experiencing pain I'm in heaven. It's great. People suggest this is masochistic. But they're wrong. I like pain for a particular reason. I don't like needle's stuck in my arm. But I do like the pain that is necessary to be a champion.” [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pain is reframed as a catalyst for growth, turning suffering into a source of motivation and fulfillment in the pursuit of excellence. **In simple terms:** Pain as growth fuel Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to achieve mastery Themes resilience mindset self‑discipline motivation performance growth Mood determined intense empowered Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - intensive training - elite sports - military conditioning - high‑stakes competition Key Concepts pain‑as‑pleasure champion mindset forced repetition Practical Applications - motivation coaching - performance psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe discomfort as a positive force? - What limits do you set on pain in your own growth? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Bodybuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding/) [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Great people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-people/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Help me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-me/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Masochistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masochistic/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needles/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Is Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-is-pleasure-213093/) [Pain Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-necessary-1059013/) [Pain pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-pleasure/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-pain/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Routine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/routine/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Stuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuck/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Torture Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture-pain-1059012/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-pain/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Pain makes me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore, for me pain is pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/pain-makes-me-grow-growing-is-what-i-want-therefore-for-me-pain-is/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [If pain is pleasure, ima make you shed tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syoung/if-pain-is-pleasure-ima-make-you-shed-tears/) [Syoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syoung/) > [Beauty is pain,Pain is pleasure.LOVE is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beauty-is-pain-pain-is-pleasure-love-is-pain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In youth, the absense of pleasure is pain, in old age, the absence of pain is pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-youth-the-absense-of-pleasure-is-pain-in-old-age-the-absence-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Chyann Shaw cant remember how it happened or why it happened but she just couldnt take it anymore. The torture of his pain still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-sartin/chyann-shaw-cant-remember-how-it-happened-or-why-it-happened-but-she/) [Megan Sartin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-sartin/) > [“It reminded me that pain was necessary. Pain was life's curveball. Without it, we would never appreciate what it felt like to be loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-jennings/it-reminded-me-that-pain-was-necessary-pain-was-life-s-curveball/) [S.L. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-l-jennings/) > [I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/i-am-not-a-theologian-or-a-scholar-but-i-am-very-aware-of-the-fact/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [“Suffering must be obviously futile if it is to be 'educational'. It is for this reason that our history is so unintelligible, and indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-land/suffering-must-be-obviously-futile-if-it-is-to-be-educational-it-is/) [Nick Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-land/) > [ “The question of desirable grief and pain or the necessity for it must also be faced. \[Are\] growth and self-fulfillment possible at all without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-question-of-desirable-grief-and-pain-or-the-necessity-for-it-must/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“Pain will humble ones soul,my pain was necessary as it humbled me beyond my limitations,I do not rush what is meant to be slow,patience".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience-kudzu/pain-will-humble-ones-soul-my-pain-was-necessary-as-it-humbled-me/) [Patience Kudzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience-kudzu/) > [“Sometimes pain is necessary to fix a problem that cannot otherwise be corrected. It’s unpleasant and unfortunate, but then it’s over and everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-messenger/sometimes-pain-is-necessary-to-fix-a-problem-that-cannot-otherwise-be/) [Shannon Messenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-messenger/) > [“The focus on “need fulfillment” that so often accompanies an emphasis on empathy leaves out the possibility that what another may really “need” (in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-h-friedman/the-focus-on-need-fulfillment-that-so-often-accompanies-an-emphasis/) [Edwin H. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-h-friedman/) > [You will not stop. The pain is necessary, especially the pain of hunger. It reassures you that you are strong, can withstand anything, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/you-will-not-stop-the-pain-is-necessary-especially-the-pain-of-hunger/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [“Perspective shifted on why it must 'hurt to heal', and a series of questions kept coming to mind. I found myself wondering if these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-sodini/perspective-shifted-on-why-it-must-hurt-to-heal-and-a-series-of/) [Jennifer Sodini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-sodini/) > [The pain is necessary. Sometimes pain is the teacher we require, a hidden gift of healing and hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/the-pain-is-necessary-sometimes-pain-is-the-teacher-we-require-a/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) ## More by Arnold Schwarzenegger > [You know, nothing is more important than education, because nowhere are our stakes higher; our future depends on the quality of education of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/you-know-nothing-is-more-important-than-education-because-nowhere-are/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [ I do not make decisions \[as governor\] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-based-on-what-have-i-learned/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [It is impossible to be a maverick or a true original if you're too well behaved and don't want to break the rules. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/it-is-impossible-to-be-a-maverick-or-a-true-original-if-you-re-too/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/for-the-hundreds-of-thousands-of-californians-in-gay-and-lesbian/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I regularly buy and sell cars, but I do not buy and sell fleets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-regularly-buy-and-sell-cars-but-i-do-not-buy-and-sell-fleets/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [During the time I was in office we have seen the beginning of the elimination of the fire season completely and are having fires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/during-the-time-i-was-in-office-we-have-seen-the-beginning-of-the/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [What is the point of being on this Earth if you are going to be like everyone else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/what-is-the-point-of-being-on-this-earth-if-you-are-going-to-be-like/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [What's fascinating is, people in Washington would rather spend time in Hollywood, and people in Hollywood would rather spend time in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/what-s-fascinating-is-people-in-washington-would-rather-spend-time-in/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Do you have to discipline yourself to have breakfast, lunch or dinner? Of course not; and so discipline - the usual concept of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/do-you-have-to-discipline-yourself-to-have-breakfast-lunch-or-dinner/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Women are the engine driving the growth in California's economy. Women make California's economy unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/women-are-the-engine-driving-the-growth-in-california-s-economy-women/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Posing is a performing art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/posing-is-a-performing-art/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I can look at a chick who's a little out of shape and if she turns me on, I won't hesitate to date her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-can-look-at-a-chick-who-s-a-little-out-of-shape-and-if-she-turns-me/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Obviously, I've made statements that were ludicrous and crazy and outrageous and all those things, because that's the way I always was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/obviously-i-ve-made-statements-that-were-ludicrous-and-crazy-and/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [If it bleeds, we can kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-it-bleeds-we-can-kill-it/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [If I would do another 'Terminator' movie I would have Terminator travel back in time and tell Arnold not to have a special election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-i-would-do-another-terminator-movie-i-would-have-terminator-travel/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) [Explore all 423 Arnold Schwarzenegger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it the torture routine. Because it's like forced torture. Torturing my body. What helps me is to think of this pain as pleasure. Pain makes me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore, for me pain is pleasure. And so when I am experiencing pain I'm in heaven. It's great. People suggest this is masochistic. But they're wrong. I like pain for a particular reason. I don't like needle's stuck in my arm. 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