--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It took me seventeen years to get three…" description: "\"It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.\" — Hank Aaron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/hank-aaron-7857_afternoon_it-took-me-seventeen-years-to-get-three_1417995.jpg" --- # It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in… ![“It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.” quote by Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/hank-aaron-7857_afternoon_it-took-me-seventeen-years-to-get-three_1417995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/hank-aaron-7857_afternoon_it-took-me-seventeen-years-to-get-three_1417995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/hank-aaron-7857_afternoon_it-took-me-seventeen-years-to-get-three_1417995.jpg) > “It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.” [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skill and effort can be eclipsed by a single moment of extraordinary performance. **In simple terms:** One day can outshine years of work. Key Takeaway Seize opportunities when they arise. Themes achievement perseverance talent Mood motivational hopeful Type sports inspirational When to use this quote - sports competition - career milestones - personal challenges - goal setting Key Concepts breakthrough performance effort Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare for breakthrough moments? - What does this say about consistency vs. luck? A Different Perspective One exceptional event may not guarantee long‑term success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afternoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afternoon/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Baseball Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball-did-1964205/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Golf course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf-course/) [Hits Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hits-baseball-1964203/) [Seventeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seventeen/) [Seventeen Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seventeen-years/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand Hits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-hits-1510518/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Took Seventeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-seventeen-626309/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. It took one afternoon on the golf course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/it-took-me-seventeen-years-to-get-three-thousand-hits-in-baseball-it/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [“It took me seventeen years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.” —George Herman “Babe” Ruth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-took-me-seventeen-years-to-get-3-000-hits-in-baseball-i-did-it-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It took seventeen years to get from my second novel, 'Truck,' to my third, 'Geek Love.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/it-took-seventeen-years-to-get-from-my-second-novel-truck-to-my-third/) [Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/) > [My dad told me, 'It takes fifteen years to be an overnight success', and it took me seventeen and a half years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrien-brody/my-dad-told-me-it-takes-fifteen-years-to-be-an-overnight-success-and/) [Adrien Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrien-brody/) > [It took me 17 years to get threethousand hits in baseball.It took me one afternoon on a golf course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/it-took-me-17-years-to-get-threethousand-hits-in-baseball-it-took-me/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [My dad was my coach in baseball and early on in basketball, so playing baseball was something we always did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stafford/my-dad-was-my-coach-in-baseball-and-early-on-in-basketball-so-playing/) [Matthew Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stafford/) > [What you love, you will love. What you undertake you will complete. You are a fulfiller of hope; you are to be relied on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/what-you-love-you-will-love-what-you-undertake-you-will-complete-you/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I've been with Life now for seventeen years and I have written several articles for them and will be doing more writing and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/i-ve-been-with-life-now-for-seventeen-years-and-i-have-written/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am seventeen years old. My home is District 12. I was in the Hunger Games. I escaped. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/my-name-is-katniss-everdeen-i-am-seventeen-years-old-my-home-is-2/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“A friend once told Megan that we are always seventeen years old, waiting for our lives to begin. More than ever, clutching to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/a-friend-once-told-megan-that-we-are-always-seventeen-years-old/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Here's something I've learned from seventeen years of living: there's nothing you can do to make someone love you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-easer/here-s-something-i-ve-learned-from-seventeen-years-of-living-there-s/) [Katherine Easer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-easer/) > [“As far as my own sexual orientation, I'm only seventeen years old and as of right now, I'm straight, but who knows what's to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-e-snow/as-far-as-my-own-sexual-orientation-i-m-only-seventeen-years-old-and/) [Judith E. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-e-snow/) > [“The right thing to do is so easy to see when you're seventeen years old and don't have to make any big decisions. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huntley-fitzpatrick/the-right-thing-to-do-is-so-easy-to-see-when-you-re-seventeen-years/) [Huntley Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huntley-fitzpatrick/) > [“I'll regret it for the rest of my life, Rush, but I was fucking seventeen years old. We're morons at seventeen. We think everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wright/i-ll-regret-it-for-the-rest-of-my-life-rush-but-i-was-fucking/) [Laura Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wright/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) ## More by Hank Aaron > [If I knew exactly what I know now and had it to do over, I'd be a switch hitter. No telling what I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/if-i-knew-exactly-what-i-know-now-and-had-it-to-do-over-i-d-be-a/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I think what separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-think-what-separates-a-superstar-from-the-average-ballplayer-is/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I've tried a lot of things in the off-season, but the only thing I really know is baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-ve-tried-a-lot-of-things-in-the-off-season-but-the-only-thing-i/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I had many, many, many death threats. I couldn't open letters for a long time, because they all had to be opened by either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-had-many-many-many-death-threats-i-couldn-t-open-letters-for-a-long/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Last year, I was sort of a kid and I was a little scared, I ain't scared any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/last-year-i-was-sort-of-a-kid-and-i-was-a-little-scared-i-ain-t/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I played sometimes about as dull as you can play it. I did things the right way, you know. I think I modeled my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-played-sometimes-about-as-dull-as-you-can-play-it-i-did-things-the/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I thought my chances to make the Braves were better and that they were being fairer to me, paying me more money to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-thought-my-chances-to-make-the-braves-were-better-and-that-they/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [There is no such thing as a bed of roses all your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-bed-of-roses-all-your-life/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I tell young people - including my granddaughter - there is no shortcut in life. You have to take it one step at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-tell-young-people-including-my-granddaughter-there-is-no-shortcut/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [People were not ready to accept me as a baseball player. The easiest part of that whole thing, chasing the Babe's record, was playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/people-were-not-ready-to-accept-me-as-a-baseball-player-the-easiest/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Too bad integration didn't come sooner, because there were so many ballplayers that could have made the major leagues. That's why, you look back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/too-bad-integration-didn-t-come-sooner-because-there-were-so-many/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Failure is a part of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/failure-is-a-part-of-success/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [“The day I become content is the day I cease to be anything more than a man who hit home runs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/the-day-i-become-content-is-the-day-i-cease-to-be-anything-more-than/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I don't see pitches down the middle anymore - not even in batting practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/i-don-t-see-pitches-down-the-middle-anymore-not-even-in-batting/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Some people resented the fact I was trying to break a white man's record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/some-people-resented-the-fact-i-was-trying-to-break-a-white-man-s/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) [Explore all 86 Hank Aaron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) ## More Afternoon quotes > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Honestly, I'm living my fantasy. It's being with my family, preferably on a snowy afternoon with a fire going, cuddled up in blankets, playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-vieira/honestly-i-m-living-my-fantasy-it-s-being-with-my-family-preferably/) [Meredith Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-vieira/) > [It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/it-was-a-very-intense-and-stressful-situation-there-was-playing-in/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Sunday afternoon is for papers and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-haslam/sunday-afternoon-is-for-papers-and-writing/) [Nicholas Haslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-haslam/) > [I think that if most guys in America could somehow get their fave-rave poster girl in bed and have total license to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-think-that-if-most-guys-in-america-could-somehow-get-their-fave/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [At five in the afternoon. It was exactly five in the afternoon. A boy brought the white sheet at five in the afternoon. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-five-in-the-afternoon-it-was-exactly-five-in-the-afternoon-a-boy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-spollen/i-discovered-windows-one-afternoon-and-after-that-nothing-was-ever/) [Anne Spollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-spollen/) > [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon? And the day after that, and the next thirty years?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-ll-we-do-with-ourselves-this-afternoon-and-the-day-after-that/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Imagine you are walking down a leafy path…The sun is receding, and you are walking alone, caressed by the breezy light of the late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/imagine-you-are-walking-down-a-leafy-path-the-sun-is-receding-and-you/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice. He's there all afternoon but when the game is over, you don't even remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice-he-s-there-all/) [Ban Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-johnson/) > [Sometimes in the afternoon sky the moon would pass white as a cloud, furtive, lusterless, like an actress who does not have to perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/sometimes-in-the-afternoon-sky-the-moon-would-pass-white-as-a-cloud/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) [Browse all 1,085 Afternoon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afternoon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. 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