--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is much easier to be the hunter than…" description: "\"It is much easier to be the hunter than the hunted. When you are the one not expected to do anything, you play better.\" — Gary Payton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/gary-payton-4951_easier_it-is-much-easier-to-be-the-hunter-than_233486.png" --- # It is much easier to be the hunter than the hunted. When… ![“It is much easier to be the hunter than the hunted. When you are the one not expected to do anything, you play better.” quote by Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/gary-payton-4951_easier_it-is-much-easier-to-be-the-hunter-than_233486.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/gary-payton-4951_easier_it-is-much-easier-to-be-the-hunter-than_233486.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/gary-payton-4951_easier_it-is-much-easier-to-be-the-hunter-than_233486.png) > “It is much easier to be the hunter than the hunted. When you are the one not expected to do anything, you play better.” [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being unexpected lets you perform without pressure, giving an advantage. **In simple terms:** Unexpectedness reduces pressure and improves performance. Key Takeaway Embrace roles where others don’t expect you. Themes confidence performance expectations Mood confident strategic Type motivational advice When to use this quote - sports - career moves - public speaking - team dynamics Key Concepts psychology competition mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you use low expectations to your advantage? - When does being underestimated become a disadvantage? A Different Perspective If others expect you, pressure may increase performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunter/) [Hunters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunters/) [Hunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunting/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom is nothing but the distance between the hunter and the hunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bei-dao/freedom-is-nothing-but-the-distance-between-the-hunter-and-the-hunted/) [Bei Dao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bei-dao/) > [This world's divided into two kinds of people: the hunter and the hunted. Luckily I'm the hunter. Nothing can change that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mccrea/this-world-s-divided-into-two-kinds-of-people-the-hunter-and-the/) [Joel McCrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mccrea/) > [When you're huntin' somepin you're a hunter, an' you're strong. Can't nobody beat a hunter. But when you get hunted - that's different. Somepin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/when-you-re-huntin-somepin-you-re-a-hunter-an-you-re-strong-can-t/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I see thousands of people in the images. They flicker past, but never return. Nothing and no one stays, it’s the loneliest of lonely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mons-kallentoft/i-see-thousands-of-people-in-the-images-they-flicker-past-but-never/) [Mons Kallentoft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mons-kallentoft/) > [Before I was the hunter. Now I'm the hunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-hingis/before-i-was-the-hunter-now-i-m-the-hunted/) [Martina Hingis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-hingis/) > [“Now she would become the hunter...and he, the hunted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/now-she-would-become-the-hunter-and-he-the-hunted/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [Be the hunter, not the hunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/be-the-hunter-not-the-hunted/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [You can be the hunter, or you can be the hunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gardner/you-can-be-the-hunter-or-you-can-be-the-hunted/) [Lisa Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gardner/) > [Hunting is now to most of us a game, whose relish seems based upon some mystic remembrance, in the blood, of ancient days when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/hunting-is-now-to-most-of-us-a-game-whose-relish-seems-based-upon/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [“But the hunter was also the hunted, For many of my arrows left my bow only to seek my own breast...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/but-the-hunter-was-also-the-hunted-for-many-of-my-arrows-left-my-bow/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“Last night, the Hunter was hunted. Do you remember how hard I made you cum?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-james/last-night-the-hunter-was-hunted-do-you-remember-how-hard-i-made-you/) [Ella James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-james/) > [In searching for the self, one cannot simultaneously be the hunter and the hunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-ryle/in-searching-for-the-self-one-cannot-simultaneously-be-the-hunter-and/) [Gilbert Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-ryle/) > [“you were both hunter and hunted; the shadow of your thoughts was the beast which killed you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-holdstock/you-were-both-hunter-and-hunted-the-shadow-of-your-thoughts-was-the/) [Robert Holdstock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-holdstock/) > [“She had forgotten them all; forgotten Richard down in the mud, and the Marquis and his foolish crossbow, and the world. She was delighted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/she-had-forgotten-them-all-forgotten-richard-down-in-the-mud-and-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“In order to survive in a world of instinct, its' alternative is to hunt or being hunted. Reject this, then be prepared to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-order-to-survive-in-a-world-of-instinct-its-alternative-is-to-hunt/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) ## More by Gary Payton > [Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, they'll take bad criticism in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin-garnett-they-ll-take-bad/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [If he's averaging 25 points and I can contain him to 17, then I've won the battle. If he averages 12 assists and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-he-s-averaging-25-points-and-i-can-contain-him-to-17-then-i-ve-won/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I did a lot of things I regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-did-a-lot-of-things-i-regret/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I'm not going to sit here and dwell on whether or not I am going to the Hall of Fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-m-not-going-to-sit-here-and-dwell-on-whether-or-not-i-am-going-to/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I am going to go on with my life, and if they call me and say 'Yo, you are going to be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-am-going-to-go-on-with-my-life-and-if-they-call-me-and-say-yo-you/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Patrick Beverley is one of my favorites. What he does is he brings a lot of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/patrick-beverley-is-one-of-my-favorites-what-he-does-is-he-brings-a/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Because of how I am on the court, people think I'm wild and crazy. But really, I'm a kick-back guy, so Seattle suits me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/because-of-how-i-am-on-the-court-people-think-i-m-wild-and-crazy-but/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Coming from Oakland, Calif., I never thought I'd be a Hall of Famer. I wasn't thinking about basketball like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/coming-from-oakland-calif-i-never-thought-i-d-be-a-hall-of-famer-i/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [If Seattle could put my jersey on top of the Space Needle, they would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-seattle-could-put-my-jersey-on-top-of-the-space-needle-they-would/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I don't give a damn about MVP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-don-t-give-a-damn-about-mvp/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [If you see yourself in the paper every day and people keep talking about you, you will have a little breakdown in yourself, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-you-see-yourself-in-the-paper-every-day-and-people-keep-talking/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [You don't have to like me, but I'm going to tell you the truth. If you don't like what I'm saying, then go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/you-don-t-have-to-like-me-but-i-m-going-to-tell-you-the-truth-if-you/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I would go after any rookie. Any rookie with a lot of hype. I used to do it to Jason Kidd. I would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-would-go-after-any-rookie-any-rookie-with-a-lot-of-hype-i-used-to/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I was guarding the best player and getting 25 and having eight assists, and three-four steals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-was-guarding-the-best-player-and-getting-25-and-having-eight/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [People always talk about first-ballot Hall of Famer and all that stuff, but it doesn't really make a difference. Once you get in there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/people-always-talk-about-first-ballot-hall-of-famer-and-all-that/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) [Explore all 103 Gary Payton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) ## More Easier quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing is easier than yesterday's solutions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-sperry/nothing-is-easier-than-yesterday-s-solutions/) Roger Sperry > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/often-we-find-it-easier-to-think-our-way-around-things-rather-than-to/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [I know it is easier said than done, but you have to find a way to surround yourself with positivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/i-know-it-is-easier-said-than-done-but-you-have-to-find-a-way-to/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [God puts you where God needs you. 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