---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The main thing about archery is a battle…"
description: "\"The main thing about archery is a battle with yourself. You can ruin it all. Once you have learned the technique, the point is to recreate the perfect ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/geena-davis-2583_archery_the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle_447275.jpg"
---

#  The main thing about archery is a battle with yourself…

![“The main thing about archery is a battle with yourself. You can ruin it all. Once you have learned the technique, the point is to recreate the perfect technique over and over and over.” quote by Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/geena-davis-2583_archery_the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle_447275.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/geena-davis-2583_archery_the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle_447275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/geena-davis-2583_archery_the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle_447275.jpg)

> “The main thing about archery is a battle with yourself. You can ruin it all. Once you have learned the technique, the point is to recreate the perfect technique over and over and over.”

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Mastery in archery mirrors self‑discipline; repeated practice refines skill.

**In simple terms:** Archery teaches self‑discipline through repetition.

Key Takeaway

Practice to perfect technique.

Themes

discipline skill self‑improvement

Mood

focused calm

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- sports coaching
- musical practice
- language learning

Key Concepts

motor learning mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance practice and rest?
- When is it time to adjust technique?

A Different Perspective

Perfection can become obsession.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Archery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archery/) [Archery Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archery-battle-3911094/) [Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrow/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Learned Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-technique-3911095/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Thing Archery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-archery-3911093/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [ “\[T\]echnique has a different meaning for the novice than for the expert. One needs technique in learning to play the piano but eventually, if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/t-echnique-has-a-different-meaning-for-the-novice-than-for-the-expert/)

[Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/)

> [With the sax, I learned technique well enough so that it feels like part of my body, and I just express myself. That's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/with-the-sax-i-learned-technique-well-enough-so-that-it-feels-like/)

[Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/)

> [I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/i-must-only-warn-you-of-one-thing-you-have-become-a-different-person/)

[Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/)

> [I am a very good archer. I use archery as my way of meditation. I cannot sit down and just meditate in the classical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-am-a-very-good-archer-i-use-archery-as-my-way-of-meditation-i/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [I do love archery in my day-to-day life because I find it very therapeutic, and I've trained every season with the bow and arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-leslie/i-do-love-archery-in-my-day-to-day-life-because-i-find-it-very/)

[Rose Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-leslie/)

> [Archery requires very sensitive muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-dong-hyun/archery-requires-very-sensitive-muscles/)

[Im Dong-Hyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-dong-hyun/)

> [“The right art," cried the Master, "is purposeless, aimless! The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/the-right-art-cried-the-master-is-purposeless-aimless-the-more/)

[Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/)

> [Attempts are found in domains of human performance, such as sports, games, artistic domains, professional domains like medicine and the law, and so on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/attempts-are-found-in-domains-of-human-performance-such-as-sports/)

[Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/)

> [If you understand real practice, then archery or other activities can be zen. If you don't understand how to practice archery in its true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/if-you-understand-real-practice-then-archery-or-other-activities-can/)

[Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/)

> [“I'm not sure why anyone on the face of the planet would want to use a bow and arrow. I mean, it seems like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-m-not-sure-why-anyone-on-the-face-of-the-planet-would-want-to-use-a/)

[Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/)

> [In the case of archery, the hitter and the hit are no longer two opposing objects, but are one reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/in-the-case-of-archery-the-hitter-and-the-hit-are-no-longer-two/)

[Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/)

> [The Roman goddess Diana, you know, is usually shown with a bow and arrow. Every first-year Latin student knows that. I still remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/the-roman-goddess-diana-you-know-is-usually-shown-with-a-bow-and/)

[Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/)

> [You have to relax when you're shooting an arrow. You can't be tense. And that just helps, in your day-to-day life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/you-have-to-relax-when-you-re-shooting-an-arrow-you-can-t-be-tense/)

[Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/)

> [Famous archer, Howard Hill won all of the 267 archery contests he entered. He could hit a bullseye at 50 feet, then split first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/famous-archer-howard-hill-won-all-of-the-267-archery-contests-he/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [The right art is purposeless, aimless! The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake of hitting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/the-right-art-is-purposeless-aimless-the-more-obstinately-you-try-to/)

[D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/)

## More by Geena Davis

> [In advertisements for your favorite products, are women denigrated or objectified in some way? All of that is important. I would rewrite my kids'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/in-advertisements-for-your-favorite-products-are-women-denigrated-or/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Women are in many ways second-class citizens in the United States in 2016, because of the way that we're portrayed in popular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/women-are-in-many-ways-second-class-citizens-in-the-united-states-in/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Rosie knows how to play ball. She's an athlete, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/rosie-knows-how-to-play-ball-she-s-an-athlete-for-sure/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I'm very competitive, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-m-very-competitive-i-think/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Film roles really did start to dry up when I got into my 40s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/film-roles-really-did-start-to-dry-up-when-i-got-into-my-40s/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [You can't snap your fingers, and suddenly half of Congress is women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/you-can-t-snap-your-fingers-and-suddenly-half-of-congress-is-women/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [On film, you can't do it over again. And you do have to stop shooting at a certain point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/on-film-you-can-t-do-it-over-again-and-you-do-have-to-stop-shooting/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I remember when 'A League of Their Own' was coming out in '92, when I was doing interviews, it seemed like every interviewer at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-remember-when-a-league-of-their-own-was-coming-out-in-92-when-i-was/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [Behind the cameras, there's a different problem, which I think is not unconscious gender bias. It's probably categorized more as conscious gender bias. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/behind-the-cameras-there-s-a-different-problem-which-i-think-is-not/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I was so tall in high school that I was convinced that I was uncoordinated and not athletic. I was terrified to play any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was-convinced-that-i-was/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [We all know the huge problem there is with entertainment in general leaving out women. Especially as actors, we know there are fewer great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/we-all-know-the-huge-problem-there-is-with-entertainment-in-general/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [ That's the really frustrating thing, but also the fixable thing. My theory why no one notices is that that's the \[women's roles\] ratio thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/that-s-the-really-frustrating-thing-but-also-the-fixable-thing-my/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I watch very little television, actually. There's so many shows I want to watch and then I know I'll get hooked and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-watch-very-little-television-actually-there-s-so-many-shows-i-want/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [I never intended to become a data head. I could never have predicted it would play such an important role in my life. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-never-intended-to-become-a-data-head-i-could-never-have-predicted/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [They called and said, "I know we're not supposed to even tell you, but you've been offered to play the President." And I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/they-called-and-said-i-know-we-re-not-supposed-to-even-tell-you-but/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

[Explore all 159 Geena Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

## More Archery quotes

> [I did archery when I was in high school. In our gym class we had two weeks of archery, and I remember taking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-did-archery-when-i-was-in-high-school-in-our-gym-class-we-had-two/)

[John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/)

> [But you must be patient and careful; nor should you expect to become an accomplished archer without long and severe training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-thompson/but-you-must-be-patient-and-careful-nor-should-you-expect-to-become/)

[Maurice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-thompson/)

> [A very enjoyable meditation on the curious thing called 'Zen' -not the Japanese religious tradition but rather the Western clich of Zen that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gardner/a-very-enjoyable-meditation-on-the-curious-thing-called-zen-not-the/)

[Alexander Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gardner/)

> [“Don't think of what you have to do, don't consider how to carry it out!" he exclaimed. "The shot will only go smoothly when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/don-t-think-of-what-you-have-to-do-don-t-consider-how-to-carry-it-out/)

[Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/)

> [“How do you have an armed siege without guns?’ ‘She used Olympic standard archery equipment,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livia-day/how-do-you-have-an-armed-siege-without-guns-she-used-olympic-standard/)

[Livia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livia-day/)

> [I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/i-must-only-warn-you-of-one-thing-you-have-become-a-different-person/)

[Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/)

> [The No. 1 rule in duck hunting is to go where the ducks are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jase-robertson/the-no-1-rule-in-duck-hunting-is-to-go-where-the-ducks-are/)

[Jase Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jase-robertson/)

> [Famous archer, Howard Hill won all of the 267 archery contests he entered. He could hit a bullseye at 50 feet, then split first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/famous-archer-howard-hill-won-all-of-the-267-archery-contests-he/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [And one more thing. About my name — Artemis — you were right. In London, it is generally a female name, after the Greek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/and-one-more-thing-about-my-name-artemis-you-were-right-in-london-it/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [You have to relax when you're shooting an arrow. You can't be tense. And that just helps, in your day-to-day life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/you-have-to-relax-when-you-re-shooting-an-arrow-you-can-t-be-tense/)

[Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/)

> [If a shot aimed at aptness succeeds aptly, it is then fully apt, since it is not only apt but also aptly apt. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/if-a-shot-aimed-at-aptness-succeeds-aptly-it-is-then-fully-apt-since/)

[Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/)

> [All my playmates were black. I lived in a little community called Archery (ph) in a rural area. And I didn't have any white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/all-my-playmates-were-black-i-lived-in-a-little-community-called/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [So long as the new moon returns in heaven a bent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of archery keep hold in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-thompson/so-long-as-the-new-moon-returns-in-heaven-a-bent-beautiful-bow-so/)

[Maurice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-thompson/)

> [The only time I got the absolute most insanely nervous in my life was at the Olympic trials, because archery is a horrible spectator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/the-only-time-i-got-the-absolute-most-insanely-nervous-in-my-life-was/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [“Seniors get to do all the jolly things," Owen complained as they walked to archery practice that first day. Neal glared at the chubby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/seniors-get-to-do-all-the-jolly-things-owen-complained-as-they-walked/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

[Browse all 84 Archery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archery/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The main thing about archery is a battle with yourself. You can ruin it all. Once you have learned the technique, the point is to recreate the perfect technique over and over and over.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Geena Davis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle-with-yourself-you-can-ruin/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Archery"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle-with-yourself-you-can-ruin/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/geena-davis-2583_archery_the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle_447275.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/geena-davis-2583_archery_the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle_447275.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/229/geena-davis-2583_archery_the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle_447275.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The main thing about archery is a battle with yourself. You can ruin it all. Once you have learned the…” — Geena Davis",
                "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": "Geena Davis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The main thing about archery is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle-with-yourself-you-can-ruin/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/the-main-thing-about-archery-is-a-battle-with-yourself-you-can-ruin/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
