--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I won 34 in my career and I never thought…" description: "\"I won 34 in my career and I never thought that the record would last, that I'd be the person with the most stage wins.\" — Eddy Merckx" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/eddy-merckx-7014_career_i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-though_2701637.jpg" --- # I won 34 in my career and I never thought that the record… ![“I won 34 in my career and I never thought that the record would last, that I'd be the person with the most stage wins.” quote by Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/eddy-merckx-7014_career_i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-though_2701637.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/eddy-merckx-7014_career_i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-though_2701637.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/eddy-merckx-7014_career_i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-though_2701637.jpg) > “I won 34 in my career and I never thought that the record would last, that I'd be the person with the most stage wins.” [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He achieved a record of 34 career wins, never expecting it to endure, highlighting unexpected longevity in success. **In simple terms:** Success can outlast expectations. Key Takeaway Celebrate achievements without assuming they’re temporary. Themes sports achievement humility legacy expectation Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational sports When to use this quote - athlete interviews - sports history - personal motivation Key Concepts record longevity career milestones humility Questions to Reflect On - What achievements do you take for granted? - How can you sustain humility after success? A Different Perspective Records may be broken, making legacy fragile. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [34 Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/34-career-2738131/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage Wins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-wins-2738130/) [Thought Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-record-2003778/) [Wins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wins/) ## Related quotes > [I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/i-always-thought-that-record-would-stand-until-it-was-broken/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [I've always considered myself a serious guitar player, but I haven't been really worried about whether the public thought I was. That never was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/i-ve-always-considered-myself-a-serious-guitar-player-but-i-haven-t/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [“I made a record called Island in the Sun about the planet Earth and invited David over to hear it at the house I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-made-a-record-called-island-in-the-sun-about-the-planet-earth-and/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [I always thought that if record companies didn't understand me, fine - I'd go and do it by myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle/i-always-thought-that-if-record-companies-didn-t-understand-me-fine-i/) [Estelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle/) > [The most important record is the wins record that I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-brodeur/the-most-important-record-is-the-wins-record-that-i-have/) [Martin Brodeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-brodeur/) > [You know, we opened a record number of stores last year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-scott/you-know-we-opened-a-record-number-of-stores-last-year/) [Lee Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-scott/) > [Well, we didn't have our original drummer on our last record. And most of that album was not played as a band in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/well-we-didn-t-have-our-original-drummer-on-our-last-record-and-most/) [James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/) > [The last thing you want to see is your record sit on a shelf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-kracker/the-last-thing-you-want-to-see-is-your-record-sit-on-a-shelf/) [Uncle Kracker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncle-kracker/) > [Taxpayers have put more than $24 trillion on the line to resuscitate Wall Street after the economic meltdown of last year. With the help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-cantwell/taxpayers-have-put-more-than-24-trillion-on-the-line-to-resuscitate/) [Maria Cantwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-cantwell/) > [When I was growing up, you would put on a KISS record or a UFO or Aerosmith record and listen to it from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adler/when-i-was-growing-up-you-would-put-on-a-kiss-record-or-a-ufo-or/) [Steven Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adler/) > [I know he played on the last record but I don't wake up in the middle of the night thinking of Eric Clapton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-bruce/i-know-he-played-on-the-last-record-but-i-don-t-wake-up-in-the-middle/) [Jack Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-bruce/) > [Oh, Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson. And no matter if he sold 40 million records off of one record and sold 15 off his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-jackson/oh-michael-jackson-is-michael-jackson-and-no-matter-if-he-sold-40/) [Tito Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-jackson/) > [I've said this: If Jim Leyland had been in my place, he'd have the 2,000 wins and I'd have 1,000. Leyland is the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-ve-said-this-if-jim-leyland-had-been-in-my-place-he-d-have-the-2/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [Whether or not your person wins or loses, give him a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/whether-or-not-your-person-wins-or-loses-give-him-a-chance/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) ## More by Eddy Merckx > [You need talent as a rider and I think I had that in my genes. But I think I also had a talent for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/you-need-talent-as-a-rider-and-i-think-i-had-that-in-my-genes-but-i/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Absolutely, in stage races, Froome is better than Eddy Merckx. Maybe he can win five, six Tours de France, but my focus wasn't only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/absolutely-in-stage-races-froome-is-better-than-eddy-merckx-maybe-he/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I didn't win any bunch sprints. But I won in solo breakaways, I won time-trials, I won in the mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-didn-t-win-any-bunch-sprints-but-i-won-in-solo-breakaways-i-won/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I always had and I still have that special desire in me to be the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-always-had-and-i-still-have-that-special-desire-in-me-to-be-the-best/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I'm not saying that every time I race I go to the very limit of my strength. But when the opportunity appears I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-m-not-saying-that-every-time-i-race-i-go-to-the-very-limit-of-my/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I can tell you I preferred my era. Yes, they make much more money now but I preferred my cycling. The passion for racing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-can-tell-you-i-preferred-my-era-yes-they-make-much-more-money-now/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I sleep very well, thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-sleep-very-well-thank-you/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Doping has to be fought, cheats must be unmasked, abuse should be punished but all this should remain human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/doping-has-to-be-fought-cheats-must-be-unmasked-abuse-should-be/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [It's difficult for him, carrying the name. But Axel is doing what he likes to do, and for me, if Axel's happy, I'm also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/it-s-difficult-for-him-carrying-the-name-but-axel-is-doing-what-he/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Cycling is a good school for life. It makes you hard and gives you ambition, but you can never say you've arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/cycling-is-a-good-school-for-life-it-makes-you-hard-and-gives-you/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [The most important thing is that you're the best of your generation and I can say that I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-re-the-best-of-your-generation/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Sometimes it's strange being me. I travel the world meeting people, I'm surrounded with friends and my life is full, but all the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/sometimes-it-s-strange-being-me-i-travel-the-world-meeting-people-i-m/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I think I was three or four when I first rode and four when I first crashed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-think-i-was-three-or-four-when-i-first-rode-and-four-when-i-first/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [No sport is 100 per cent clean - I think 95 per cent of the cyclists are clean. In the normal world, not everybody is clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/no-sport-is-100-per-cent-clean-i-think-95-per-cent-of-the-cyclists/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Miracles can sometimes happen in cycling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/miracles-can-sometimes-happen-in-cycling/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) [Explore all 95 Eddy Merckx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I won 34 in my career and I never thought that the record would last, that I'd be the person with the most stage wins.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eddy Merckx" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-thought-that-the-record-would-last/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-thought-that-the-record-would-last/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/eddy-merckx-7014_career_i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-though_2701637.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/eddy-merckx-7014_career_i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-though_2701637.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/eddy-merckx-7014_career_i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-though_2701637.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I won 34 in my career and I never thought that the record would last, that I'd be the person with the most…” — Eddy Merckx", "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": "Eddy Merckx", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I won 34 in my career...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-thought-that-the-record-would-last/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-won-34-in-my-career-and-i-never-thought-that-the-record-would-last/#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 } } ] } ```