--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always wanted to be the best I could be…" description: "\"I always wanted to be the best I could be at whatever I did. I didn't want to be the number one golfer in the world. I just wanted to be as good as I c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/greg-norman-11856_being-the-best_i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-b_2026559.jpg" --- # I always wanted to be the best I could be at whatever I… ![“I always wanted to be the best I could be at whatever I did. I didn't want to be the number one golfer in the world. I just wanted to be as good as I could be.” quote by Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/greg-norman-11856_being-the-best_i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-b_2026559.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/greg-norman-11856_being-the-best_i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-b_2026559.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/greg-norman-11856_being-the-best_i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-b_2026559.jpg) > “I always wanted to be the best I could be at whatever I did. I didn't want to be the number one golfer in the world. I just wanted to be as good as I could be.” [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aspiring for personal excellence rather than external titles. **In simple terms:** Strive to be your best, not the best overall. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth. Themes self-improvement humility excellence Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports competition - career development - creative projects - academic pursuits Key Concepts personal standards intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What personal standards guide your daily actions? - How do you measure improvement beyond rankings? A Different Perspective External validation can distract from true self‑assessment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Golfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golfer/) [Golfer World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golfer-world-2972315/) [Golfers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golfers/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Number Golfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-golfer-3698620/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-best/) [Wanted Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-good/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I always wanted to be the best I could be at whatever I did. I didn't want to be the number one golfer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-be-at-whatever-i-did-i-didn-t-2/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [I mean I don't want to feel inferior to any other golfer in the world. You know if you do that, then you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-mean-i-don-t-want-to-feel-inferior-to-any-other-golfer-in-the-world/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [I want to try to become the best golfer in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-want-to-try-to-become-the-best-golfer-in-the-world/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [I want to be best golfer in the world. But I feel like golf is not everything in my life, but I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/i-want-to-be-best-golfer-in-the-world-but-i-feel-like-golf-is-not/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [I don't really remember, but from about the age of five I told anyone who would listen that I was going to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-don-t-really-remember-but-from-about-the-age-of-five-i-told-anyone/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [I want to be the best golfer in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-korda/i-want-to-be-the-best-golfer-in-the-world/) [Nelly Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-korda/) > [You can always tell the golfer who's winning: he's the one who keeps telling his opponent that it's only a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/you-can-always-tell-the-golfer-who-s-winning-he-s-the-one-who-keeps/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [A golfer rarely needs to hit a spectacular shot until the one that preceded it was pretty bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-penick/a-golfer-rarely-needs-to-hit-a-spectacular-shot-until-the-one-that/) [Harvey Penick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-penick/) > [I think I've heard somebody say that I was a well-dressed golfer. I guess that has something to do with the fact that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-think-i-ve-heard-somebody-say-that-i-was-a-well-dressed-golfer-i/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [No golfer can ever become too good to practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-hezlet/no-golfer-can-ever-become-too-good-to-practice/) [May Hezlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-hezlet/) > [ As a golfer, you feel like you're perpetually on the rack \[in foursomes\]. Mentally, it's very difficult. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-crenshaw/as-a-golfer-you-feel-like-you-re-perpetually-on-the-rack-in-foursomes/) [Ben Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-crenshaw/) > [Every golfer has a little monster in him. It's just that type of sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fuzzy-zoeller/every-golfer-has-a-little-monster-in-him-it-s-just-that-type-of-sport/) [Fuzzy Zoeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fuzzy-zoeller/) > [A friend of mine, a dedicated golfer, shot a hole in one playing by himself. Disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/a-friend-of-mine-a-dedicated-golfer-shot-a-hole-in-one-playing-by/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [This golfer has a wicked slice. And quite a follow-through. That's why his partner, who stood too close, Is on the green in two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/this-golfer-has-a-wicked-slice-and-quite-a-follow-through-that-s-why/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [I'm pretty much an open book. I am a fanatic golfer and golf nut. If I have three free hours any day, my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-m-pretty-much-an-open-book-i-am-a-fanatic-golfer-and-golf-nut-if-i/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) ## More by Greg Norman > [I am a winner. I just didn't win today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-am-a-winner-i-just-didn-t-win-today/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [ We heard the roar \[for Nicklaus\] on 15 and then another and another.By that time, Nicky \[Price\] and I were back there with about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/we-heard-the-roar-for-nicklaus-on-15-and-then-another-and-another-by/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [Happiness is a long walk with a putter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/happiness-is-a-long-walk-with-a-putter/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [I mean, I can actually say goodbye to the game of golf, never hit another golf shot the rest of my life and I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-mean-i-can-actually-say-goodbye-to-the-game-of-golf-never-hit/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [You only get out of it what you put into it. If you are a sheep in this world, you're not going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/you-only-get-out-of-it-what-you-put-into-it-if-you-are-a-sheep-in/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [Every time you lose, you think that life's unfair. You think of the bad breaks. But when you're winning and playing well, you still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/every-time-you-lose-you-think-that-life-s-unfair-you-think-of-the-bad/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [I screwed up. It's all on me. I know that...All these hiccups I have, they must be for a reason. All this is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-screwed-up-it-s-all-on-me-i-know-that-all-these-hiccups-i-have-they/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [Let's do something to wake these people up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/let-s-do-something-to-wake-these-people-up/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [We've got to abide by the rules. We have to protect it. The game of golf at a professional level is so clean. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/we-ve-got-to-abide-by-the-rules-we-have-to-protect-it-the-game-of/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [You know, like I said, I'm not going to adjust my Senior Tour schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/you-know-like-i-said-i-m-not-going-to-adjust-my-senior-tour-schedule/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [You create your own luck by the way you play. There is no such luck as bad luck. Fate has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/you-create-your-own-luck-by-the-way-you-play-there-is-no-such-luck-as/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [Double or nothing down the last hole?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/double-or-nothing-down-the-last-hole/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [ I played with Tiger \[Woods\], and I probably felt like you would be out there with me. Tiger is getting it by me about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-played-with-tiger-woods-and-i-probably-felt-like-you-would-be-out/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [There is no room on the golf course for anger or self-pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/there-is-no-room-on-the-golf-course-for-anger-or-self-pity/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [I think it's great the opportunity is given to all of us really to come out and play major championships after the real major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-think-it-s-great-the-opportunity-is-given-to-all-of-us-really-to/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) [Explore all 57 Greg Norman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) ## More Being the best quotes > [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I think my days of trying outrageous things are over. I'm not looking for trends, I just want to be the best version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-my-days-of-trying-outrageous-things-are-over-i-m-not-looking/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [Ah simple laughter that you trewing on my face. Is a simple karma that you will get for tomorrow.. Ah big clap from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leodonessiony/ah-simple-laughter-that-you-trewing-on-my-face-is-a-simple-karma-that/) [Leodonessiony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leodonessiony/) > [To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [There's no guarantee for the future; might as well be HAPPY now, and give my BEST in everything I do! In that way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/there-s-no-guarantee-for-the-future-might-as-well-be-happy-now-and/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Success lies not in the result but in the effort. BEING the Best is not at all important. DOING the Best is all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabin-shrestha/success-lies-not-in-the-result-but-in-the-effort-being-the-best-is/) [Prabin Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabin-shrestha/) > [Sometimes you choose the wrong actor, he could be the best actor ever, but hes not cast in the right part then it doesnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/sometimes-you-choose-the-wrong-actor-he-could-be-the-best-actor-ever/) [Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/) > [I am not impressed with what people own. But I’m impressed with what they achieve. I’m proud to be a physician. Always strive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/i-am-not-impressed-with-what-people-own-but-i-m-impressed-with-what/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [You have to love your country like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its mommy. And right-wing Republicans tend to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/you-have-to-love-your-country-like-an-adult-loves-somebody-not-like-a/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [My role is to think about tennis and to help Serena Williams be the best she can be and do what she wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mouratoglou/my-role-is-to-think-about-tennis-and-to-help-serena-williams-be-the/) [Patrick Mouratoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mouratoglou/) > [One of my mom's best lines is... You're not training to be the best in the world, you're training to be the best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/one-of-my-mom-s-best-lines-is-you-re-not-training-to-be-the-best-in/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We have to consider who is going to be the best prime minister to take on a "one nation" agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/we-have-to-consider-who-is-going-to-be-the-best-prime-minister-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Every day the sun rises is a new day to be your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-vargas/every-day-the-sun-rises-is-a-new-day-to-be-your-best/) [Anthony Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-vargas/) [Browse all 1,358 Being the best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always wanted to be the best I could be at whatever I did. I didn't want to be the number one golfer in the world. I just wanted to be as good as I could be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Greg Norman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-be-at-whatever-i-did-i-didn-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being the best" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-be-at-whatever-i-did-i-didn-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/greg-norman-11856_being-the-best_i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-b_2026559.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/greg-norman-11856_being-the-best_i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-b_2026559.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/greg-norman-11856_being-the-best_i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-b_2026559.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always wanted to be the best I could be at whatever I did. I didn't want to be the number one golfer in…” — Greg Norman", "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": "Greg Norman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always wanted to be the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-be-at-whatever-i-did-i-didn-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/i-always-wanted-to-be-the-best-i-could-be-at-whatever-i-did-i-didn-t/#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 } } ] } ```