--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In general, I enjoy athletes who have a…" description: "\"In general, I enjoy athletes who have a strong character who let their abilities speak for themselves.\" — Eric Heiden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/eric-heiden-22924_ability_in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-s_1326232.jpg" --- # In general, I enjoy athletes who have a strong character… ![“In general, I enjoy athletes who have a strong character who let their abilities speak for themselves.” quote by Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/eric-heiden-22924_ability_in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-s_1326232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/eric-heiden-22924_ability_in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-s_1326232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/eric-heiden-22924_ability_in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-s_1326232.jpg) > “In general, I enjoy athletes who have a strong character who let their abilities speak for themselves.” [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True character shines when achievements speak louder than words. **In simple terms:** Actions reveal character more than claims. Key Takeaway Let performance be your reputation. Themes character athletics integrity Mood inspirational reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - team sports - individual competition - coaching sessions - public speaking Key Concepts sports psychology role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure humility with success? - What habits keep focus on growth? A Different Perspective External praise can distort self‑assessment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abilities Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities-speak-2085895/) [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) [Athletes Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes-strong-3851013/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enjoy Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-athletes-4434905/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-character/) ## Related quotes > [As female athletes, we're all strong. We all have gone through something in our life that has helped shape us to where we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breanna-stewart/as-female-athletes-we-re-all-strong-we-all-have-gone-through/) [Breanna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breanna-stewart/) > [“We do not let our ego plan a counter-attack when people underestimate our creative abilities, we speak through our work instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/we-do-not-let-our-ego-plan-a-counter-attack-when-people-underestimate/) [Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/) > [On today's athletes: I wish I could turn back the clock a little bit so I'd have a chance to cut it up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/on-today-s-athletes-i-wish-i-could-turn-back-the-clock-a-little-bit/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [In reality, we can prove that the incidents of drug, alcohol abuse and violence have dropped dramatically among professional athletes - but the problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-steinberg/in-reality-we-can-prove-that-the-incidents-of-drug-alcohol-abuse-and/) [Leigh Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-steinberg/) > [When you look at guys who get recruited, most of the best athletes, they come from poor families. I don't forget. I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/when-you-look-at-guys-who-get-recruited-most-of-the-best-athletes/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [Some athletes are super fashionable and not good. It's like c'mon man focus on your craft, be who you're supposed to be and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/some-athletes-are-super-fashionable-and-not-good-it-s-like-c-mon-man/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) > [Many dedicated endurance athletes don’t need to be told what to do – they need to be told what not to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tinley/many-dedicated-endurance-athletes-don-t-need-to-be-told-what-to-do/) [Scott Tinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tinley/) > [It is very discouraging to be in a team with white athletes. On the track you are Tommie Smith, the fastest man in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommie-smith/it-is-very-discouraging-to-be-in-a-team-with-white-athletes-on-the/) [Tommie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommie-smith/) > [They want everything to be better for their children. I think athletes are starting to see that and that's why they're starting to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hawkins/they-want-everything-to-be-better-for-their-children-i-think-athletes/) [Andrew Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hawkins/) > [Somewhere behind the athlete you have become, and hours if practice is a little girl who picked up a ball, fell in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somewhere-behind-the-athlete-you-have-become-and-hours-if-practice-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always tell young athletes the same thing, 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, what must your top priority be? Running.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/i-always-tell-young-athletes-the-same-thing-wherever-you-go-whatever/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [My guess is many top athletes, distance runners included, use performance-enhancing drugs, enough so that the problem must be tackled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rodgers/my-guess-is-many-top-athletes-distance-runners-included-use/) [Bill Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rodgers/) > [Theres that initial reticence for some athletes to take you seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-guerrero/theres-that-initial-reticence-for-some-athletes-to-take-you-seriously/) [Lisa Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-guerrero/) > [Professional athletes die twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/professional-athletes-die-twice/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [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/) ## More by Eric Heiden > [We never did a lot of weights, but a lot of repetitions. The most I would use doing squats was 300 pounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/we-never-did-a-lot-of-weights-but-a-lot-of-repetitions-the-most-i/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [I really liked it best when I was a nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-really-liked-it-best-when-i-was-a-nobody/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [When I was skating you had to participate in every thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/when-i-was-skating-you-had-to-participate-in-every-thing/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [It is not the events in our life that define our character, but how we deal with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/it-is-not-the-events-in-our-life-that-define-our-character-but-how-we/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [I mean you got to thank your parents for giving you the right genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-mean-you-got-to-thank-your-parents-for-giving-you-the-right-genes/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [You don't really want to load up a whole lot, probably anything more than four hours before the race. I needed something to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/you-don-t-really-want-to-load-up-a-whole-lot-probably-anything-more/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [I'd rather get a nice warmup suit. That's something I can use. Gold medals just sit there. When I get old, maybe I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-d-rather-get-a-nice-warmup-suit-that-s-something-i-can-use-gold/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [On today's athletes: I wish I could turn back the clock a little bit so I'd have a chance to cut it up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/on-today-s-athletes-i-wish-i-could-turn-back-the-clock-a-little-bit/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [I had the drive to pursue speedskating and I found a sport that I was good at. If I'd got into cycling, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/i-had-the-drive-to-pursue-speedskating-and-i-found-a-sport-that-i-was/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [Heck, gold medals, what can you do with them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/heck-gold-medals-what-can-you-do-with-them/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [It's not a sport you get famous at. If I wanted to be famous, I would have stuck with hockey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/it-s-not-a-sport-you-get-famous-at-if-i-wanted-to-be-famous-i-would/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [They're just big in the eyes of the American public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/they-re-just-big-in-the-eyes-of-the-american-public/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [Cyclists, I work with a number of cyclists. They are great athletes; they are great aerobic athletes. If you ask them to hit a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/cyclists-i-work-with-a-number-of-cyclists-they-are-great-athletes/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [Immediately after the Olympics, I was pretty fatigued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/immediately-after-the-olympics-i-was-pretty-fatigued/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [How much you move affects your strength, your power, your balance, how you look, how you think, how well you withstand the high winds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/how-much-you-move-affects-your-strength-your-power-your-balance-how/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) [Explore all 26 Eric Heiden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In general, I enjoy athletes who have a strong character who let their abilities speak for themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Heiden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-strong-character-who-let-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-strong-character-who-let-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/eric-heiden-22924_ability_in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-s_1326232.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/eric-heiden-22924_ability_in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-s_1326232.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc2/eric-heiden-22924_ability_in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-s_1326232.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In general, I enjoy athletes who have a strong character who let their abilities speak for themselves.” — Eric Heiden", "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": "Eric Heiden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In general, I enjoy athletes who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-strong-character-who-let-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/in-general-i-enjoy-athletes-who-have-a-strong-character-who-let-their/#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 } } ] } ```