--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had tried a few practice matches with…" description: "\"“He had tried a few practice matches with his left hand. But his left hand had always been a traitor and would not do what he called on it to do and he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/ernest-hemingway-83_left-hand_he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with_1109743.jpg" --- # He had tried a few practice matches with his left hand… ![“He had tried a few practice matches with his left hand. But his left hand had always been a traitor and would not do what he called on it to do and he did not trust it.” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/ernest-hemingway-83_left-hand_he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with_1109743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/ernest-hemingway-83_left-hand_he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with_1109743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/ernest-hemingway-83_left-hand_he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with_1109743.jpg) > ““He had tried a few practice matches with his left hand. But his left hand had always been a traitor and would not do what he called on it to do and he did not trust it.”” [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Illustrates lack of trust in one's own abilities, leading to self‑sabotage **In simple terms:** Distrust in a skill hinders performance Key Takeaway Build confidence in all abilities Themes self-doubt confidence skill development Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - sports training - performing arts - public speaking Key Concepts trust self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What skill do you doubt? - How can you rebuild trust in it? A Different Perspective Overreliance on past failures can limit growth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hand Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-left-2121815/) [Hand Traitor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-traitor-2950573/) [Left hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-hand/) [Traitor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traitor/) [Traitor Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traitor-called-2637207/) ## Related quotes > [“I wish you'd get one thing straight - I'm not a traitor. I was never on your side. I'm called the enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-traviss/i-wish-you-d-get-one-thing-straight-i-m-not-a-traitor-i-was-never-on/) [Karen Traviss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-traviss/) > [I've got a right hand and a left hand and I've got my jiu-jitsu and I've got heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-ve-got-a-right-hand-and-a-left-hand-and-i-ve-got-my-jiu-jitsu-and-i/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [Put your right hand up, put your left hand up. Right hand got a blunt, left hand got a cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-ma/put-your-right-hand-up-put-your-left-hand-up-right-hand-got-a-blunt/) [Remy Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-ma/) > [“and addressed them thus: “I presume you know the difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/and-addressed-them-thus-i-presume-you-know-the-difference-between/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Evil and good are God's right hand and left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/evil-and-good-are-god-s-right-hand-and-left/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I lift my hand on top of my left side where my heart is, wondering if I'm still breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-lift-my-hand-on-top-of-my-left-side-where-my-heart-is-wondering-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Mister hit Josephine with the palm of his hand across her left cheek and it was then she knew she would run.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-conklin/mister-hit-josephine-with-the-palm-of-his-hand-across-her-left-cheek/) [Tara Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-conklin/) > [Keep your life in its constant contact with God that his surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/keep-your-life-in-its-constant-contact-with-god-that-his-surprising/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“You did not do so badly for something worthless,' he said to his left hand. 'But there was a moment when I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-did-not-do-so-badly-for-something-worthless-he-said-to-his-left/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“He bowed at the dark, straightened, tossed his hat over his shoulder, and, carrying the muleta in his left hand and the sword in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-bowed-at-the-dark-straightened-tossed-his-hat-over-his-shoulder/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whistleblowers is another aspect that needs to be addressed. We have to restore the protections of whistleblowers and also the encouragement and rewards. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/whistleblowers-is-another-aspect-that-needs-to-be-addressed-we-have/) [Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/) > [I would be a traitor to these poor burned bodies if I came here to talk good fellowship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-schneiderman/i-would-be-a-traitor-to-these-poor-burned-bodies-if-i-came-here-to/) [Rose Schneiderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-schneiderman/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Less of me and all I'm trying to be. Building my kingdom just to find it so short of your glory I'm a traitor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-y-lennox/less-of-me-and-all-i-m-trying-to-be-building-my-kingdom-just-to-find/) [Zion Y Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-y-lennox/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## More by Ernest Hemingway > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“There was no wind, and, outside now of the warm air of the cave, heavy with smoke of both tobacco and charcoal, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-was-no-wind-and-outside-now-of-the-warm-air-of-the-cave-heavy/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-was-not-brilliant-bull-fighting-it-was-only-perfect-bull-fighting/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Viva my husband who was Mayor of this town”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/viva-my-husband-who-was-mayor-of-this-town/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“The earth gets tired of being exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-earth-gets-tired-of-being-exploited/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“We drove out along the coast road. There was the green of the headlands, the white, red-roofed villas, patches of forest, and the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-drove-out-along-the-coast-road-there-was-the-green-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Oh, darling, I've been so miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/oh-darling-i-ve-been-so-miserable/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I read my own books sometimes to cheer me when it is hard to write, and then I remember that it was always difficult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-read-my-own-books-sometimes-to-cheer-me-when-it-is-hard-to-write/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“You find everything on earth at Harry's." "Yes, my Colonel. Except, possibly, happiness." "I'll damn well find happiness, too," the Colonel assured him. "Happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-find-everything-on-earth-at-harry-s-yes-my-colonel-except/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“No. It's bad for me. Cole Porter wrote the words and the music. This knowledge that you're going mad for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/no-it-s-bad-for-me-cole-porter-wrote-the-words-and-the-music-this/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) [Explore all 1,464 Ernest Hemingway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More Left hand quotes > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [“In the darkness as we lie side by side John Cole's left hand snakes over under the sheets and takes a hold of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/in-the-darkness-as-we-lie-side-by-side-john-cole-s-left-hand-snakes/) [Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/) > [I can go right, I can go left, I'm amphibious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-shackleford/i-can-go-right-i-can-go-left-i-m-amphibious/) [Charles Shackleford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-shackleford/) > [If I had a choice, I'd say I'm right-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/if-i-had-a-choice-i-d-say-i-m-right-handed/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [“Except in stock locutions, such as "You were paid yesterday," "The Germans were defeated," or "The project was abandoned," the passive voice is virtually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/except-in-stock-locutions-such-as-you-were-paid-yesterday-the-germans/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [I always pet a dog with my left hand because if he bit me I'd still have my right hand to paint with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gris/i-always-pet-a-dog-with-my-left-hand-because-if-he-bit-me-i-d-still/) [Juan Gris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gris/) > [Well, it's always been my nature to take chances My right hand drawing back while my left hand advances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/well-it-s-always-been-my-nature-to-take-chances-my-right-hand-drawing/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I was at Mount Tamalpais near San Francisco hiking when a boulder came hurling down the mountainside and smashed my left hand. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/i-was-at-mount-tamalpais-near-san-francisco-hiking-when-a-boulder/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [... and she held out a pretty gold ring. 'Put it,' she said, 'on the fourth finger of my left hand, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/and-she-held-out-a-pretty-gold-ring-put-it-she-said-on-the-fourth/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“When he’d seen her standing at the stove. . . . that familiar wave of possessiveness and love had welled up in him. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-reus/when-he-d-seen-her-standing-at-the-stove-that-familiar-wave-of/) [Katie Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-reus/) > [“He seemed to be drinking in her face, looking at her instead of into her. “Stop. Stop that. This isn’t goodbye.” Blake pulled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/he-seemed-to-be-drinking-in-her-face-looking-at-her-instead-of-into/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZAZEN First of all, you have to sit down, which you’re probably already doing. The traditional way is to sit on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/instructions-for-zazen-first-of-all-you-have-to-sit-down-which-you-re/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the sky I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry: 'Awake, my Little ones, and fill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/dreaming-when-dawn-s-left-hand-was-in-the-sky-i-heard-a-voice-within/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [“The answer was again in the affirmative, so arrangements were made to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace. Sun Tzu divided them into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-answer-was-again-in-the-affirmative-so-arrangements-were-made-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Accustom yourself to Master tilings of the greatest difficulty, and which you seem to despair of. For if you observe, the Left-hand, tho' for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/accustom-yourself-to-master-tilings-of-the-greatest-difficulty-and/) [Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/) [Browse all 510 Left hand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-hand/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He had tried a few practice matches with his left hand. But his left hand had always been a traitor and would not do what he called on it to do and he did not trust it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest Hemingway" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with-his-left-hand-but-his-left/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Left hand" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with-his-left-hand-but-his-left/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/ernest-hemingway-83_left-hand_he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with_1109743.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/ernest-hemingway-83_left-hand_he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with_1109743.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/ernest-hemingway-83_left-hand_he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with_1109743.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He had tried a few practice matches with his left hand. But his left hand had always been a traitor and…” — Ernest Hemingway", "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": "Ernest Hemingway", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He had tried a few practice...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with-his-left-hand-but-his-left/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-had-tried-a-few-practice-matches-with-his-left-hand-but-his-left/#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 } } ] } ```