--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have learned, in my life and work as a…" description: "\"I have learned, in my life and work as a sportswriter, that big-time Sports and big-time Politics are not so far apart in America. They are both a mean..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/hunter-s-thompson-278_america_i-have-learned-in-my-life-and-work-as-a_2288457.jpg" --- # I have learned, in my life and work as a sportswriter… ![“I have learned, in my life and work as a sportswriter, that big-time Sports and big-time Politics are not so far apart in America. They are both a means to the same end, which is victory... And why not? Victory is good for you, and don't let anybody tell you different.” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/hunter-s-thompson-278_america_i-have-learned-in-my-life-and-work-as-a_2288457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/hunter-s-thompson-278_america_i-have-learned-in-my-life-and-work-as-a_2288457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88e/hunter-s-thompson-278_america_i-have-learned-in-my-life-and-work-as-a_2288457.jpg) > “I have learned, in my life and work as a sportswriter, that big-time Sports and big-time Politics are not so far apart in America. They are both a means to the same end, which is victory... And why not? Victory is good for you, and don't let anybody tell you different.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sports and politics function similarly as arenas where victory is pursued and celebrated, reflecting cultural values. **In simple terms:** Sports and politics both chase victory. Key Takeaway Recognize the overlap of competition in different fields. Themes competition politics culture victory Mood critical analytical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - campaign strategy - sports journalism - public persuasion - branding Key Concepts Americanism media influence power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does the pursuit of victory shape public discourse? - When does competition become harmful? A Different Perspective Victory can be manipulated to mask ethical concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [End Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-victory-1957786/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Far apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-apart/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [I have learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-have-learned/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Sports Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports-big-930864/) [Sportswriter Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sportswriter-big-5368165/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Victory Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory-good-1481183/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I want to win, and that's why I go all out. I try to do whatever it takes to make sure at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/i-want-to-win-and-that-s-why-i-go-all-out-i-try-to-do-whatever-it/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) > [The Cold War did end in the victory of one side and in the defeat of the other. This reality cannot be denied, despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-cold-war-did-end-in-the-victory-of-one-side-and-in-the-defeat-of/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Battles for truth are fought all alone but in the end it's a victory for many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-abraham/battles-for-truth-are-fought-all-alone-but-in-the-end-it-s-a-victory/) [Amit Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-abraham/) > [The single finger which wipes out tears during our failure is much better than the 10 fingers which comes together to clap for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-single-finger-which-wipes-out-tears-during-our-failure-is-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Victory is a good wine; defeat is a good university!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/victory-is-a-good-wine-defeat-is-a-good-university/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [There is a kind of victory in good work, no matter how humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/there-is-a-kind-of-victory-in-good-work-no-matter-how-humble/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I'm confident in the victory of good over evil always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-marley/i-m-confident-in-the-victory-of-good-over-evil-always/) [Skip Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-marley/) > [In the old days, you'd get credit if you would spend less money and have victory. That would be a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-the-old-days-you-d-get-credit-if-you-would-spend-less-money-and/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Make no mistake about it: Operation Desert Storm truly was a victory of good over evil, of freedom over tyranny, of peace over war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/make-no-mistake-about-it-operation-desert-storm-truly-was-a-victory/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [“We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie-i/we-africans-will-fight-if-necessary-and-we-know-that-we-shall-win-as/) [Haile Selassie I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie-i/) > [In sports, big names and celebrities drive events, and that's what people gravitate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-bailey/in-sports-big-names-and-celebrities-drive-events-and-that-s-what/) [Donovan Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-bailey/) > [Sports have always been a big part of my life. At school, I played a lot of different sports, and I was competing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izabel-goulart/sports-have-always-been-a-big-part-of-my-life-at-school-i-played-a/) [Izabel Goulart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izabel-goulart/) > [For me, sports is a big part of my life. It helped me through high school. It helped me get better grades, because if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-charvet/for-me-sports-is-a-big-part-of-my-life-it-helped-me-through-high/) [David Charvet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-charvet/) > [I grew up in the Boys & Girls Club. That's where I really started playing all sports, and that's why I'm a big advocate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-thomas/i-grew-up-in-the-boys-girls-club-that-s-where-i-really-started/) [Frank Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-thomas/) > [Sports has become such a big business that the line between journalism and being a broadcast partner for all intents and purposes has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-zirin/sports-has-become-such-a-big-business-that-the-line-between/) [Dave Zirin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-zirin/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have learned, in my life and work as a sportswriter, that big-time Sports and big-time Politics are not so far apart in America. They are both a means to the same end, which is victory... And why not? 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