--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To see a man beaten not by a better…" description: "\"To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by himself is a tragedy.\" — Cus D'Amato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/cus-d-amato-21403_beaten_to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-oppo_1349767.png" --- # To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by… ![“To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by himself is a tragedy.” quote by Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/cus-d-amato-21403_beaten_to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-oppo_1349767.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/cus-d-amato-21403_beaten_to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-oppo_1349767.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/cus-d-amato-21403_beaten_to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-oppo_1349767.png) > “To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by himself is a tragedy.” [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑sabotage can defeat a person more than any opponent could. **In simple terms:** Self‑defeat is tragic. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑discipline. Themes personal failure mental toughness competition Mood motivational cautionary Type sports self‑help When to use this quote - athletic training - personal development - coaching Key Concepts psychology of performance self‑sabotage Questions to Reflect On - What internal barriers hold you back? - How can you strengthen mental resilience? A Different Perspective Even strong opponents can be outmatched by inner doubts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beaten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beaten/) [Beaten Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beaten-better-2872478/) [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Man Beaten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-beaten-975204/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Opponent Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponent-tragedy-4586045/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [Usyk could beat me - he's beaten better than me, so he could beat me - but I just don't think he will, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/usyk-could-beat-me-he-s-beaten-better-than-me-so-he-could-beat-me-but/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [I've never known a man to be beaten fairly, nor one to be elected, unfairly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ellis/i-ve-never-known-a-man-to-be-beaten-fairly-nor-one-to-be-elected/) [Anne Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ellis/) > [A man can be beaten in two ways, if he gives up or he dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-machowicz/a-man-can-be-beaten-in-two-ways-if-he-gives-up-or-he-dies/) [Richard Machowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-machowicz/) > [I was well beaten myself, and I am better for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-law-montgomery/i-was-well-beaten-myself-and-i-am-better-for-it/) [Bernard Law Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-law-montgomery/) > [A frightened man is a beaten man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-frightened-man-is-a-beaten-man/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When a man is beaten, tormented and defeated…He is ready to learn something. —Emerson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-divine/when-a-man-is-beaten-tormented-and-defeated-he-is-ready-to-learn/) [Mark Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-divine/) > [I want to see a man beaten to a bloody pulp with a high-heel shoved in his mouth, like an apple in the mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/i-want-to-see-a-man-beaten-to-a-bloody-pulp-with-a-high-heel-shoved/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [I want to beat all the opponents who have beaten me before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/i-want-to-beat-all-the-opponents-who-have-beaten-me-before/) [Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/) > [After a desperate fight, to know to congratulate your opponent, if he has beaten you, to shake his hand and go for a drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-noah/after-a-desperate-fight-to-know-to-congratulate-your-opponent-if-he/) [Yannick Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-noah/) > [In boxing you create a strategy to beat each new opponent, it's just like chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennox-lewis/in-boxing-you-create-a-strategy-to-beat-each-new-opponent-it-s-just/) [Lennox Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennox-lewis/) > [It's important to respect both your teammates and your opponents. Friendships can make a victory last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-koven/it-s-important-to-respect-both-your-teammates-and-your-opponents/) [James Koven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-koven/) > [Your biggest opponent isn't the other guy. It's human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/your-biggest-opponent-isn-t-the-other-guy-it-s-human-nature/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [I can't say that I was my happiest on court, but I felt completely free. Free from family obligations, free from my own torment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-connors/i-can-t-say-that-i-was-my-happiest-on-court-but-i-felt-completely/) [Jimmy Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-connors/) > [Your biggest hurdle isn't your opponent, it is yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-todd/your-biggest-hurdle-isn-t-your-opponent-it-is-yourself/) [Brandon Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-todd/) > [You never lose a game if the opponent doesn't score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-royal/you-never-lose-a-game-if-the-opponent-doesn-t-score/) [Darrell Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-royal/) ## More by Cus D'Amato > [Boxing is entertainment, so to be successful a fighter must not only win but he must win in an exciting manner. He must throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/boxing-is-entertainment-so-to-be-successful-a-fighter-must-not-only/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [There are very few new things in this world, very few. That's why people that are young, if they're smart, try to profit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/there-are-very-few-new-things-in-this-world-very-few-that-s-why/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [I tell my kids, what is the difference between a hero and a coward? What is the difference between being yellow and being brave?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/i-tell-my-kids-what-is-the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-coward/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Every fighter that ever lived had fear. A boy comes to me and tells me that he's not afraid, if I believed him I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/every-fighter-that-ever-lived-had-fear-a-boy-comes-to-me-and-tells-me/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [A boy comes to me with a spark of interest. I feed the spark and it becomes a flame. I feed the flame and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/a-boy-comes-to-me-with-a-spark-of-interest-i-feed-the-spark-and-it/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [If you can hit your opponent with two punches, you don't hit him with one. Get off with some bad intentions in there. Believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/if-you-can-hit-your-opponent-with-two-punches-you-don-t-hit-him-with/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Mike's (Tyson) punch is like an atomic bomb in that it is relative to nature. Both have no value unless you have a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/mike-s-tyson-punch-is-like-an-atomic-bomb-in-that-it-is-relative-to/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Losers are winners who quit,...even if you lose...you still win...if you don't quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/losers-are-winners-who-quit-even-if-you-lose-you-still-win-if-you-don/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Boxing is a sport of self-control. You must understand fear so you can manipulate it. Fear is like fire. You can make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/boxing-is-a-sport-of-self-control-you-must-understand-fear-so-you-can/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [When you get hit that's when you've got to be calm. A professional fighter has to learn how to hit and not get hit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/when-you-get-hit-that-s-when-you-ve-got-to-be-calm-a-professional/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Heroes and cowards feel exactly the same fear. Heroes just react to it differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/heroes-and-cowards-feel-exactly-the-same-fear-heroes-just-react-to-it/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [When two men step into the ring, one and only one deserves to win. When you step into the ring, you gotta know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/when-two-men-step-into-the-ring-one-and-only-one-deserves-to-win-when/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [A fighter has to know fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/a-fighter-has-to-know-fear/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [You got to be smart you got to be clever and not get hit and when your able to do this your a fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/you-got-to-be-smart-you-got-to-be-clever-and-not-get-hit-and-when/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Boxing is a contest of character and ingenuity. The boxer with more will, determination, desire, and intelligence is always the one who comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/boxing-is-a-contest-of-character-and-ingenuity-the-boxer-with-more/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) [Explore all 29 Cus D'Amato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) ## More Beaten quotes > [I think children have talent and insight, but it gets beaten out of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/i-think-children-have-talent-and-insight-but-it-gets-beaten-out-of/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [It's kind of the yin and yang that fascinate me. That for all the evil men do, there are also people who work obnoxiously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gardner/it-s-kind-of-the-yin-and-yang-that-fascinate-me-that-for-all-the-evil/) [Lisa Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gardner/) > [It's always a wake-up call to get beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/it-s-always-a-wake-up-call-to-get-beaten/) [Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/) > [“I felt my heart skip a beat, just one, but it was enough that I took notice. It was nice to know that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/i-felt-my-heart-skip-a-beat-just-one-but-it-was-enough-that-i-took/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [Class clowns are never allowed to date anybody decent, but you don't get beaten up, you're invited to parties, and everybody likes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/class-clowns-are-never-allowed-to-date-anybody-decent-but-you-don-t/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they cant feel anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-when-people-are-beaten-and-hurt/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [You could be beaten down by anybody and by everybody and it doesn't matter what everybody else thinks it's how you see yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/you-could-be-beaten-down-by-anybody-and-by-everybody-and-it-doesn-t/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Could beauty be beaten out, O youth the cities have sent to strike at each other's strength, it is you who have kept her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-doolittle/could-beauty-be-beaten-out-o-youth-the-cities-have-sent-to-strike-at/) [Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-doolittle/) > [The midget, Bush, and that Rumsfeld deserve only to be beaten with shoes by freedom loving people everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-midget-bush-and-that-rumsfeld-deserve-only-to-be-beaten-with/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Like with every form of cancer, early detection is what it is all about. I urge everyone to learn the facts about this condition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/like-with-every-form-of-cancer-early-detection-is-what-it-is-all/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [In our culture of constant access and nonstop media, nothing feels more like a curse from God than time in the wilderness. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-martin/in-our-culture-of-constant-access-and-nonstop-media-nothing-feels/) [Jonathan Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-martin/) > [A man who is determined never to move out of the beaten road cannot lose his way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/a-man-who-is-determined-never-to-move-out-of-the-beaten-road-cannot/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [I admit that I've been beaten up so many times in films, but we do not fake it - we actually have to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-sik-choi/i-admit-that-i-ve-been-beaten-up-so-many-times-in-films-but-we-do-not/) [Min-sik Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-sik-choi/) > [I do not approve of children being beaten. It is always a confession of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-wentworth/i-do-not-approve-of-children-being-beaten-it-is-always-a-confession/) [Patricia Wentworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-wentworth/) > [If you can feel that staying human is worth while, even when it can't have any practical result whatsoever, you've beaten them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/if-you-can-feel-that-staying-human-is-worth-while-even-when-it-can-t/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) [Browse all 665 Beaten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beaten/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by himself is a tragedy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cus D'Amato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-opponent-but-by-himself-is-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beaten" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-opponent-but-by-himself-is-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/cus-d-amato-21403_beaten_to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-oppo_1349767.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/cus-d-amato-21403_beaten_to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-oppo_1349767.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/cus-d-amato-21403_beaten_to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-oppo_1349767.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by himself is a tragedy.” — Cus D'Amato", "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": "Cus D'Amato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To see a man beaten not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-opponent-but-by-himself-is-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-opponent-but-by-himself-is-a/#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 } } ] } ```