--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been a leader practically my whole…" description: "\"I've been a leader practically my whole life. I don't know what it is to follow.\" — Eli Manning" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/eli-manning-8497_knows_i-ve-been-a-leader-practically-my-whole_1562778.jpg" --- # I've been a leader practically my whole life. I don't know… ![“I've been a leader practically my whole life. I don't know what it is to follow.” quote by Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/eli-manning-8497_knows_i-ve-been-a-leader-practically-my-whole_1562778.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/eli-manning-8497_knows_i-ve-been-a-leader-practically-my-whole_1562778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/eli-manning-8497_knows_i-ve-been-a-leader-practically-my-whole_1562778.jpg) > “I've been a leader practically my whole life. I don't know what it is to follow.” [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims lifelong leadership experience, implying a lack of perspective on following others. **In simple terms:** He sees himself only as a leader, not a follower. Key Takeaway Learn to follow as well as lead. Themes leadership self‑perception teamwork Mood thoughtful inspirational Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - team sports - business projects - ment groups Key Concepts sports psychology role identity Questions to Reflect On - When have you successfully followed? - What does following teach you? A Different Perspective May overlook value of being a follower. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow/) [Know Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-follow-506296/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader Practically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-practically-5866431/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Practically Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practically-life-4620058/) [Ve Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-leader-1201914/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [I recently turned 60. Practically a third of my life is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-recently-turned-60-practically-a-third-of-my-life-is-over/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I'd lived by quotations, practically all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-d-lived-by-quotations-practically-all-my-life/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [What I know about me is that, in order to lead, you also have to know how to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/what-i-know-about-me-is-that-in-order-to-lead-you-also-have-to-know/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [Everyone wanna tweet but they don't know who to follow!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-mineo/everyone-wanna-tweet-but-they-don-t-know-who-to-follow/) [Andy Mineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-mineo/) > [I've always been a leader my whole life. I've always led. I didn't know how to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-ve-always-been-a-leader-my-whole-life-i-ve-always-led-i-didn-t-know/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [I've always been a leader. Every team I've played on, I've led my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-ve-always-been-a-leader-every-team-i-ve-played-on-i-ve-led-my-way/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [That's just a trait that I have. I feel like I've always been a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davante-adams/that-s-just-a-trait-that-i-have-i-feel-like-i-ve-always-been-a-leader/) [Davante Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davante-adams/) > [I've been fortunate to be short my entire life. There's only one position I've ever had to play, and that's point guard. So I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-paul/i-ve-been-fortunate-to-be-short-my-entire-life-there-s-only-one/) [Chris Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-paul/) > [I've always been a leader. I've not always been the vocal one, though, I think that's become new to me as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-ve-always-been-a-leader-i-ve-not-always-been-the-vocal-one-though-i/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Sometimes life puts you in situations where you do know if you should follow your mind or your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-kaushik/sometimes-life-puts-you-in-situations-where-you-do-know-if-you-should/) [Chanda Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-kaushik/) > [So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/so-far-as-he-is-able-a-prince-should-stick-to-the-path-of-good-but-if/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I get a sentence, an idea, an image, and I start. I don't know anything beyond it. I follow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rabe/i-get-a-sentence-an-idea-an-image-and-i-start-i-don-t-know-anything/) [David Rabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rabe/) > [It's important for people to know what they want, to know who they are, to follow their dreams and be the best versions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-important-for-people-to-know-what-they-want-to-know-who-they-are/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [I do know that I have to follow my heart. I never had the intention of hurting anybody and I accept full responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/i-do-know-that-i-have-to-follow-my-heart-i-never-had-the-intention-of/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [A good leader needs to know how to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/a-good-leader-needs-to-know-how-to-follow/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) ## More by Eli Manning > [I'm not worried about where I rank between other QBs in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-not-worried-about-where-i-rank-between-other-qbs-in-the-league/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [We just have to go after our game plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/we-just-have-to-go-after-our-game-plan/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I worried coming in for my freshman year what my teammates would think of me. I was a little scared they would think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-worried-coming-in-for-my-freshman-year-what-my-teammates-would/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I don't play basketball for the money. I don't play it for the crowd. When I didn't have a friend, when I was lonely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-don-t-play-basketball-for-the-money-i-don-t-play-it-for-the-crowd/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Strike one is a big, big pitch-you can do a lot after you get strike one, no matter how you get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/strike-one-is-a-big-big-pitch-you-can-do-a-lot-after-you-get-strike/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I go through life with a smile because I know things can be worse than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-go-through-life-with-a-smile-because-i-know-things-can-be-worse/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [The quarterback, you can play with a lot of big injuries. You get a little injury like an index finger or a thumb that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/the-quarterback-you-can-play-with-a-lot-of-big-injuries-you-get-a/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [You can't join a team and give up on it because you lose a few games or things aren't going well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/you-can-t-join-a-team-and-give-up-on-it-because-you-lose-a-few-games/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I never try to be something I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-never-try-to-be-something-i-m-not/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I try to stay level-headed and it's always the way I've been. Sometimes your personality out in the real world, you want to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-try-to-stay-level-headed-and-it-s-always-the-way-i-ve-been/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I've always been a player and a person who wanted to be the best at whatever he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-ve-always-been-a-player-and-a-person-who-wanted-to-be-the-best-at/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Money isn't always going to make it happen. It's important to be around people that have the right kind of attitude, being happy about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/money-isn-t-always-going-to-make-it-happen-it-s-important-to-be/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [With the game on the line. I want the ball in my hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/with-the-game-on-the-line-i-want-the-ball-in-my-hands/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I'm old school. I'm locked into my own little circle. If you cross the line, you're going to get bit. They'll always know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-m-old-school-i-m-locked-into-my-own-little-circle-if-you-cross-the/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Mom runs the family. Shes the kind of person who, without her, wed be lost. She supports us. I got real close to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/mom-runs-the-family-shes-the-kind-of-person-who-without-her-wed-be/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) [Explore all 80 Eli Manning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) ## More Follow quotes > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [I use a lot of Pinterest to follow trends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-rubio/i-use-a-lot-of-pinterest-to-follow-trends/) [Ricky Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-rubio/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [“Love Is Like Trail..You Follow You Reach One You Like To Keep,And you leave..So after Others Can Follow Your Trail…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khode-maiish-v/love-is-like-trail-you-follow-you-reach-one-you-like-to-keep-and-you/) [khode maiish v](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khode-maiish-v/) > [“I follow the Law—the Most Excellent Law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/i-follow-the-law-the-most-excellent-law/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [What do you want for your life? And how are you going to get it? Figure that out. And then follow me to gloryville.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-ellis/what-do-you-want-for-your-life-and-how-are-you-going-to-get-it-figure/) [Jason Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-ellis/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-will-follow-my-instincts-be-myself-for-good-or-ill-and-see-what/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Follow your foot steps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-love-hewitt/follow-your-foot-steps/) [Jennifer Love Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-love-hewitt/) > [You have to follow your instinct, and that's what I've tried to do all my life, whether in music or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erol-alkan/you-have-to-follow-your-instinct-and-that-s-what-i-ve-tried-to-do-all/) [Erol Alkan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erol-alkan/) > [Islam believes that Jesus is a prophet, and they honour him - highly - and they respect him, and they follow his teachings. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haaz-sleiman/islam-believes-that-jesus-is-a-prophet-and-they-honour-him-highly-and/) [Haaz Sleiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haaz-sleiman/) > [To follow good manners willingly is like paving the road and to tell somebody to follow them is like the road which is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-follow-good-manners-willingly-is-like-paving-the-road-and-to-tell/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Always look forward. Follow the path of light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikage/always-look-forward-follow-the-path-of-light/) [Mikage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikage/) [Browse all 2,855 Follow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been a leader practically my whole life. 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