--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'd get tired and want to stop, I'd…" description: "\"When I'd get tired and want to stop, I'd wonder what my next opponent was doing. I'd wonder if he was still working out. I'd tried to visualize him. Wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/dan-gable-11120_athlete_when-i-d-get-tired-and-want-to-stop-i-d_1723986.jpg" --- # When I'd get tired and want to stop, I'd wonder what my… ![“When I'd get tired and want to stop, I'd wonder what my next opponent was doing. I'd wonder if he was still working out. I'd tried to visualize him. When I could see him working, I'd start pushing myself. When I could see him in the shower, I'd push myself harder.” quote by Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/dan-gable-11120_athlete_when-i-d-get-tired-and-want-to-stop-i-d_1723986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/dan-gable-11120_athlete_when-i-d-get-tired-and-want-to-stop-i-d_1723986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/dan-gable-11120_athlete_when-i-d-get-tired-and-want-to-stop-i-d_1723986.jpg) > “When I'd get tired and want to stop, I'd wonder what my next opponent was doing. I'd wonder if he was still working out. I'd tried to visualize him. When I could see him working, I'd start pushing myself. When I could see him in the shower, I'd push myself harder.” [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Visualizing an opponent’s effort fuels personal drive and pushes performance beyond limits. **In simple terms:** Seeing others work hard motivates you to work harder. Key Takeaway Use visualization to boost training intensity. Themes motivation competition self-improvement Mood determined focused Type motivational practical When to use this quote - athletic training - personal fitness - goal setting Key Concepts visualization mental rehearsal Questions to Reflect On - How can you translate visual cues into real effort? - What other mental tools aid performance? A Different Perspective Visualization can be ineffective without concrete action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Athletic motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic-motivational/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Motivational wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-wrestling/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Sports training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports-training/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [It is not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is not the critic who counts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..who errs, who comes short again and again; but who does actually strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is-actually-in-the-arena-who-errs/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [You owe it to yourself to be the best you can possibly be - in baseball and in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/you-owe-it-to-yourself-to-be-the-best-you-can-possibly-be-in-baseball/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [If you only ever give 90% in training then you will only ever give 90% when it matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/if-you-only-ever-give-90-in-training-then-you-will-only-ever-give-90/) [Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/) > [Doctors and scientists said breaking the four-minute mile was impossible, that one would die in the attempt. Thus, when I got up from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/doctors-and-scientists-said-breaking-the-four-minute-mile-was/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“I tried to visualize my happy place - a beach with warm, white sand and sparkling, clear blue water. However, the only blue I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-allen/i-tried-to-visualize-my-happy-place-a-beach-with-warm-white-sand-and/) Sadie Allen > [I tried to visualize my jealousy as a yellowy-brown cloud boiling around inside me, then going out through my nose like smoke and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-tried-to-visualize-my-jealousy-as-a-yellowy-brown-cloud-boiling/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“make a difference? An instant’s panic, as she tried to visualize”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/make-a-difference-an-instant-s-panic-as-she-tried-to-visualize/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I can take anyone down at anytime; they can't take me down; no one can ride or turn me; I can control anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/i-can-take-anyone-down-at-anytime-they-can-t-take-me-down-no-one-can/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Wrestling... what men do during boys basketball season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/wrestling-what-men-do-during-boys-basketball-season/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Once you've wrestled, everything in life is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/once-you-ve-wrestled-everything-in-life-is-easy/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Wrestling has been a way of life with me day in and day out. I won't get too far away from it. I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/wrestling-has-been-a-way-of-life-with-me-day-in-and-day-out-i-won-t/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [More endearingly than any other sport, wrestling teaches self control and pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/more-endearingly-than-any-other-sport-wrestling-teaches-self-control/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Wrestling is the only sport I've ever competed in that puts you totally in a situation of constant motion without breaks. I could play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/wrestling-is-the-only-sport-i-ve-ever-competed-in-that-puts-you/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) ## More by Dan Gable > [Greatness in the mat is achieved through training that make you push to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/greatness-in-the-mat-is-achieved-through-training-that-make-you-push/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [“Gold metals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find-alloy called guts!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/gold-metals-aren-t-really-made-of-gold-they-re-made-of-sweat/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [We, as a wrestling community, better remember it is more than one individual that makes a winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/we-as-a-wrestling-community-better-remember-it-is-more-than-one/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Wrestlers are a little more dedicated than, and are different from, the other people, which may be strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/wrestlers-are-a-little-more-dedicated-than-and-are-different-from-the/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [If we don't progress, we backslide into bad habits, laziness and poor attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/if-we-don-t-progress-we-backslide-into-bad-habits-laziness-and-poor/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [When I lifted weights, I didn't lift just to maintain my muscle tone. I lifted to increase what I already had, to push to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/when-i-lifted-weights-i-didn-t-lift-just-to-maintain-my-muscle-tone-i/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Freedom across the world is a result of many individuals working together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/freedom-across-the-world-is-a-result-of-many-individuals-working/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [There is no mat space for malcontents or dissenters. One must neither celebrate insanely when he wins, nor sulk when he loses. He accepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/there-is-no-mat-space-for-malcontents-or-dissenters-one-must-neither/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Many of those who have paid the ultimate price for freedom have come through the wrestling ranks. We need to honor them and win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/many-of-those-who-have-paid-the-ultimate-price-for-freedom-have-come/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Wrestling has been a way of life with me day in and day out. I won't get too far away from it. I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/wrestling-has-been-a-way-of-life-with-me-day-in-and-day-out-i-won-t/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [I’m a big believer in starting with high standards and raising them. We make progress only when we push ourselves to the highest level.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/i-m-a-big-believer-in-starting-with-high-standards-and-raising-them/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [There's nothing like success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/there-s-nothing-like-success/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [You can't ever work too much because there's no such thing as being in too good condition. You can't ever lift too many weights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/you-can-t-ever-work-too-much-because-there-s-no-such-thing-as-being/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/once-you-ve-wrestled-everything-else-in-life-is-easy/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) > [I never won anything by myself. I was always strong because of help that gave me extra strength to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gable/i-never-won-anything-by-myself-i-was-always-strong-because-of-help/) [Dan Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) [Explore all 61 Dan Gable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gable/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I'd get tired and want to stop, I'd wonder what my next opponent was doing. I'd wonder if he was still working out. I'd tried to visualize him. When I could see him working, I'd start pushing myself. 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