--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm instinctive. I'm still learning how…" description: "\"I'm instinctive. I'm still learning how to run the ball. What I've done may look good to everyone else, but I know I'm capable of more than I've shown...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/clinton-portis-28240_balls_i-m-instinctive-i-m-still-learning-how-t_2234458.jpg" --- # I'm instinctive. I'm still learning how to run the ball… ![“I'm instinctive. I'm still learning how to run the ball. What I've done may look good to everyone else, but I know I'm capable of more than I've shown.” quote by Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/clinton-portis-28240_balls_i-m-instinctive-i-m-still-learning-how-t_2234458.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/clinton-portis-28240_balls_i-m-instinctive-i-m-still-learning-how-t_2234458.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/clinton-portis-28240_balls_i-m-instinctive-i-m-still-learning-how-t_2234458.jpg) > “I'm instinctive. I'm still learning how to run the ball. What I've done may look good to everyone else, but I know I'm capable of more than I've shown.” [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The athlete acknowledges instinctual talent but seeks growth beyond current performance. **In simple terms:** Instinct plus learning leads to greater capability. Key Takeaway Commit to continual improvement despite early success. Themes growth self‑awareness athletics Mood determined optimistic Type motivational advice When to use this quote - training programs - coaching - personal goal setting Key Concepts skill development confidence building Questions to Reflect On - What specific steps will you take to expand your abilities? - How do you measure growth beyond external praise? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [I know what I'm capable of doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-know-what-i-m-capable-of-doing/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [Everyone tells us you really don't know what you're capable of till you're in the middle of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rapp/everyone-tells-us-you-really-don-t-know-what-you-re-capable-of-till/) [Anthony Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rapp/) > [I know what I'm capable of wearing in one lifetime and what I really need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-know-what-i-m-capable-of-wearing-in-one-lifetime-and-what-i-really/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I know what I'm capable of, and I try to go out and prove that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/i-know-what-i-m-capable-of-and-i-try-to-go-out-and-prove-that/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [I know what I'm capable of doing. I just want to stay fit and healthy and let my football take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsey/i-know-what-i-m-capable-of-doing-i-just-want-to-stay-fit-and-healthy/) [Aaron Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsey/) > [Some people say, therefore, that violence and war are inevitable. I say rubbish: Our brains are fully capable of controlling instinctive behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/some-people-say-therefore-that-violence-and-war-are-inevitable-i-say/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [The run of the ball is not in our court at the moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-neal/the-run-of-the-ball-is-not-in-our-court-at-the-moment/) Phil Neal > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [I didn't run the ball very much in college. I sat out most of the time and played a little slot receiver, a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/i-didn-t-run-the-ball-very-much-in-college-i-sat-out-most-of-the-time/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [There's no way I could put on running shoes and go out for a 5-mile run, but put a ball in my hand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-hamlin/there-s-no-way-i-could-put-on-running-shoes-and-go-out-for-a-5-mile/) [Denny Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-hamlin/) > [You will never run more than the ball. The players that don't lose the ball are the most important in the team, and good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/you-will-never-run-more-than-the-ball-the-players-that-don-t-lose-the/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [I want to run the ball, be physical and be able to throw it deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-brown/i-want-to-run-the-ball-be-physical-and-be-able-to-throw-it-deep/) [Mack Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-brown/) > [Theyre either going to run the ball here or their going to pass it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/theyre-either-going-to-run-the-ball-here-or-their-going-to-pass-it/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [Lionel Messi reminds me of George Best, the way he would run with the ball tight to his foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/lionel-messi-reminds-me-of-george-best-the-way-he-would-run-with-the/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) > [Personally, I belong to the speedy school of golf. If it were left up to me, I would introduce a new rule that said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/personally-i-belong-to-the-speedy-school-of-golf-if-it-were-left-up/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) ## More by Clinton Portis > [I don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. Give me the ball and let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-to-live-up-to-anything-because-i-ve-proven/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [A man can wear pink if he has confidence, if he believes in himself and knows he's man enough to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/a-man-can-wear-pink-if-he-has-confidence-if-he-believes-in-himself/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [Everybody who I play always wants to use me, so I always tell them that I'm the only one who knows how to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/everybody-who-i-play-always-wants-to-use-me-so-i-always-tell-them/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [I'll do anything for kids but I don't sign anything for grownups anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-ll-do-anything-for-kids-but-i-don-t-sign-anything-for-grownups/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [I can be a receiver, a cornerback, a safety and quarterback-I can play everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-can-be-a-receiver-a-cornerback-a-safety-and-quarterback-i-can-play/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [I was a pretty good DB, but I realized one day I would rather have someone trying to tackle me than me trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-was-a-pretty-good-db-but-i-realized-one-day-i-would-rather-have/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [I have a special gift, and I go out and use it. I don't think you can hide it. I'm just confident in myself-always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-have-a-special-gift-and-i-go-out-and-use-it-i-don-t-think-you-can/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [I don't feel like there should have been three backs taken ahead of me. And I'll always feel that way. But there's only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-don-t-feel-like-there-should-have-been-three-backs-taken-ahead-of/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [If y'all see me in the news, and I make the news for something that I ain't got no business making it for, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/if-y-all-see-me-in-the-news-and-i-make-the-news-for-something-that-i/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [On offense, you can fumble and they still talk about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/on-offense-you-can-fumble-and-they-still-talk-about-you/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [It's exciting when kids look up to you or kids come up to you and ask for your autograph. When grown ups come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/it-s-exciting-when-kids-look-up-to-you-or-kids-come-up-to-you-and-ask/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [I have the opportunity to control what happens in a game. I'll have the ball in my hand, and only I know what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-have-the-opportunity-to-control-what-happens-in-a-game-i-ll-have/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [Every day I wake up, I say, 'Damn, I hope I don't get that call today.' I don't want to lose my mama. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/every-day-i-wake-up-i-say-damn-i-hope-i-don-t-get-that-call-today-i/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [I'm not bitter at all. I think my memories in Denver are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-m-not-bitter-at-all-i-think-my-memories-in-denver-are-great/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [I didn't get my hair styled today. I actually stuck my hand in a socket and this is the way it turned out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-didn-t-get-my-hair-styled-today-i-actually-stuck-my-hand-in-a/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) [Explore all 19 Clinton Portis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. Give me the ball and let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-to-live-up-to-anything-because-i-ve-proven/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [And if we seem nutty to you and if we seem like an odd ball to you, just remember one thing. The mighty oak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-turner/and-if-we-seem-nutty-to-you-and-if-we-seem-like-an-odd-ball-to-you/) [Glenn Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-turner/) > [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/) Jerry Glanville Browse all 3,005 Balls quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm instinctive. I'm still learning how to run the ball. 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