--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and…" description: "\"Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and as a person. I returned to Wales 10 times better for the experience. I admit that when I went there I was not l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/gareth-thomas-6040_children_toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and_305310.jpg" --- # Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and as a person. I… ![“Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and as a person. I returned to Wales 10 times better for the experience. I admit that when I went there I was not life-savvy: I was a wild child who lived life instinctively. I would walk past a building and not even notice it.” quote by Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/gareth-thomas-6040_children_toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and_305310.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/gareth-thomas-6040_children_toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and_305310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/gareth-thomas-6040_children_toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and_305310.jpg) > “Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and as a person. I returned to Wales 10 times better for the experience. I admit that when I went there I was not life-savvy: I was a wild child who lived life instinctively. I would walk past a building and not even notice it.” [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Travel broadened his athletic and personal growth, revealing his earlier lack of awareness. **In simple terms:** Travel taught him and as a person. Key Takeaway Embrace new experiences for growth. Themes growth travel self-awareness Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - sports tours - study abroad - career transitions - volunteer work Key Concepts cultural immersion personal development Questions to Reflect On - What did you learn about yourself abroad? - How can you apply this awareness in daily life? A Different Perspective New environments can be overwhelming without preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) ## Related quotes > [In Toulouse, you immersed yourself in the culture of the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/in-toulouse-you-immersed-yourself-in-the-culture-of-the-place/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [The rugby team is a massive part of the city and generates a real passion but there is also far more to Toulouse. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/the-rugby-team-is-a-massive-part-of-the-city-and-generates-a-real/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [Love is a disease which fills you with a desire to be desired… - Comte de Toulouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-de-toulouse-lautrec/love-is-a-disease-which-fills-you-with-a-desire-to-be-desired-comte/) [Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-de-toulouse-lautrec/) > [Farrell's Bar in Brooklyn had urinals so large they looked like shower stalls for Toulouse-Lautrec.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flaherty/farrell-s-bar-in-brooklyn-had-urinals-so-large-they-looked-like/) [Joe Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flaherty/) > [I wanted to write a book that imagined where advances in the study of genetics might lead us. Holman was the first character who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-trigell/i-wanted-to-write-a-book-that-imagined-where-advances-in-the-study-of/) [Jonathan Trigell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-trigell/) > [One of my favourite cities is Toulouse, which is famous for its violets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/one-of-my-favourite-cities-is-toulouse-which-is-famous-for-its-violets/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [ “We are all are cripples in some way. \[Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/we-are-all-are-cripples-in-some-way-henri-de-toulouse-lautrec/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [In Moulin Rouge I could not change the name of Toulouse-Lautrec obviously to Toulouse-Lautrec- Martinez. But in ER I did that, my name is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/in-moulin-rouge-i-could-not-change-the-name-of-toulouse-lautrec/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [Robert Whittaker has really opened eyes, look what he's doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/robert-whittaker-has-really-opened-eyes-look-what-he-s-doing/) [Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/) > [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor has opened my eyes in many ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/samuel-coleridge-taylor-has-opened-my-eyes-in-many-ways/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [I believe in love at first sight because when I opened my eyes I saw my mother first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanchi-vikas/i-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-because-when-i-opened-my-eyes-i-saw/) Sanchi Vikas > [“They say an infant can't see when it is as young as your sister was, but she opened her eyes, and she looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/they-say-an-infant-can-t-see-when-it-is-as-young-as-your-sister-was/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I believe in love at first sight because I've been loving my mother since I just opened my eyes...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-because-i-ve-been-loving-my-mother/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Mitch opened his eyes, closed them, and then opened them wide. “There are big breasts in my face,” he announced to anyone who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/mitch-opened-his-eyes-closed-them-and-then-opened-them-wide-there-are/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [Science . . . has opened our eyes to the vastness of the universe and given us light, truth and freedom from fear where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/science-has-opened-our-eyes-to-the-vastness-of-the-universe-and-given/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) ## More by Gareth Thomas > [There are excuses for dropping the ball or missing a tackle. But there are no excuses for not playing with a passion for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/there-are-excuses-for-dropping-the-ball-or-missing-a-tackle-but-there/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [When I got married to my ex-wife, Jemma, I took my vows very, very seriously. I've been brought up with good values and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/when-i-got-married-to-my-ex-wife-jemma-i-took-my-vows-very-very/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [My sport was my comfort. The routine, the camaraderie, the team... everyone's around you. After rugby you're on your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/my-sport-was-my-comfort-the-routine-the-camaraderie-the-team-everyone/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [I wish Mike Ruddock nothing but the very best in whatever he does in the future. I will always remember him as the guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/i-wish-mike-ruddock-nothing-but-the-very-best-in-whatever-he-does-in/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [I knew I was gay at 18, but to come out then would have meant I would not have achieved what I did in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/i-knew-i-was-gay-at-18-but-to-come-out-then-would-have-meant-i-would/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [If I keep getting letters or if I keep getting messages from people who are still taking strength from my story, who are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/if-i-keep-getting-letters-or-if-i-keep-getting-messages-from-people/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [When I came out I hoped it would empower others - and it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/when-i-came-out-i-hoped-it-would-empower-others-and-it-has/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [When the Wales squad met up for the 2005 autumn internationals, I was already concerned that we were slipping into bad habits. And, yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/when-the-wales-squad-met-up-for-the-2005-autumn-internationals-i-was/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [I loved playing rugby so much. I would have played rugby every day if I could have. I loved being a player so much,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/i-loved-playing-rugby-so-much-i-would-have-played-rugby-every-day-if/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [There are days when I wake up and do not know who I am any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/there-are-days-when-i-wake-up-and-do-not-know-who-i-am-any-more/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [I was born and raised to play rugby. I have two parents who are hugely proud of my rugby achievements, but even they say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/i-was-born-and-raised-to-play-rugby-i-have-two-parents-who-are-hugely/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [I was always driven by the idea that if people ever found out about who I was then the stature I created for myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/i-was-always-driven-by-the-idea-that-if-people-ever-found-out-about/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [When you cross the whitewash, you only think about the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/when-you-cross-the-whitewash-you-only-think-about-the-present/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [In Toulouse, you immersed yourself in the culture of the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/in-toulouse-you-immersed-yourself-in-the-culture-of-the-place/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [I am a rugby player and first and foremost I am a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/i-am-a-rugby-player-and-first-and-foremost-i-am-a-man/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) [Explore all 100 Gareth Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and as a person. I returned to Wales 10 times better for the experience. I admit that when I went there I was not life-savvy: I was a wild child who lived life instinctively. I would walk past a building and not even notice it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gareth Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and-as-a-person-i-returned-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and-as-a-person-i-returned-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/gareth-thomas-6040_children_toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and_305310.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/gareth-thomas-6040_children_toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and_305310.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/gareth-thomas-6040_children_toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and_305310.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and as a person. I returned to Wales 10 times better for the experience…” — Gareth Thomas", "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": "Gareth Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Toulouse opened my eyes as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and-as-a-person-i-returned-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and-as-a-person-i-returned-to/#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 } } ] } ```