--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are subtle things you can do…" description: "\"There are subtle things you can do without crossing the line. If I see I've got up my opponent's nose, I will be over the moon. Job done.\" — Ian Poulter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/ian-poulter-13565_can-do_there-are-subtle-things-you-can-do-witho_640855.jpg" --- # There are subtle things you can do without crossing the… ![“There are subtle things you can do without crossing the line. If I see I've got up my opponent's nose, I will be over the moon. Job done.” quote by Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/ian-poulter-13565_can-do_there-are-subtle-things-you-can-do-witho_640855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/ian-poulter-13565_can-do_there-are-subtle-things-you-can-do-witho_640855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/ian-poulter-13565_can-do_there-are-subtle-things-you-can-do-witho_640855.jpg) > “There are subtle things you can do without crossing the line. If I see I've got up my opponent's nose, I will be over the moon. Job done.” [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Subtle tactics can achieve goals without breaking rules, leading to personal triumph. **In simple terms:** Small clever moves win without cheating. Key Takeaway Use wit, stay within bounds. Themes strategy ethics competition Mood confident playful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - Golf tournaments - business negotiations - political campaigns - personal relationships Key Concepts Game theory psychology sportsmanship Questions to Reflect On - What subtle actions have you used successfully? - When does a tactic cross ethical lines? A Different Perspective May be perceived as manipulative if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crossing the line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crossing-the-line/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) ## Related quotes > [Hazel had read enough books to know that a line like this one is the line down which your life breaks in two. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/hazel-had-read-enough-books-to-know-that-a-line-like-this-one-is-the/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [You have film actors doing TV, rap stars doing TV, with everyone kind of crossing the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/you-have-film-actors-doing-tv-rap-stars-doing-tv-with-everyone-kind/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [I think we're fascinated by gangsters and that whole lifestyle and crossing the line. We get sort of stuck in our normal lives, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-think-we-re-fascinated-by-gangsters-and-that-whole-lifestyle-and/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/at-some-point-you-have-to-make-a-decision-boundaries-don-t-keep-other-2/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [Over the years, so many of the barriers that prevented people from getting married, crossing lines of faith or color or ethnicity have just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/over-the-years-so-many-of-the-barriers-that-prevented-people-from/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If I keep striving to put on the best quality show based on the values I have, I don't have to think "oh we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/if-i-keep-striving-to-put-on-the-best-quality-show-based-on-the/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [In a lot of ways, I was kind of crossing lines of what I thought I was comfortable doing. I had to do all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/in-a-lot-of-ways-i-was-kind-of-crossing-lines-of-what-i-thought-i-was/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [As a gender variant visual artist I access 'technologies of gender' in order to amplify rather than erase the hermaphroditic traces of my body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-lagrace-volcano/as-a-gender-variant-visual-artist-i-access-technologies-of-gender-in/) Del LaGrace Volcano > [I think of shock as kind of an uptown form of surprise. Comedy is filled with surprise, so when I cross a line... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-think-of-shock-as-kind-of-an-uptown-form-of-surprise-comedy-is/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/you-can-waste-your-lives-drawing-lines-or-you-can-live-your-life/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I love playing with the conventions of fantasy, and breaking rules, and crossing lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-love-playing-with-the-conventions-of-fantasy-and-breaking-rules-and/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [I've become really aware of all the subtle things you can communicate through the art and how you're presenting a character, particularly someone like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-chiang/i-ve-become-really-aware-of-all-the-subtle-things-you-can-communicate/) [Cliff Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-chiang/) > [These are very subtle things, of course, and I don't expect everyone to pick them up consciously, but I think that there is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atom-egoyan/these-are-very-subtle-things-of-course-and-i-don-t-expect-everyone-to/) [Atom Egoyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atom-egoyan/) > [I can zero in on subtle things because I'm holding the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-leconte/i-can-zero-in-on-subtle-things-because-i-m-holding-the-camera/) [Patrice Leconte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-leconte/) > [“Crossing the line, that's what the Highway Patrol woman said. Neely was on a gurney, his injuries deemed non-life-threatening, she was taking her initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendric-neal/crossing-the-line-that-s-what-the-highway-patrol-woman-said-neely-was/) [Kendric Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendric-neal/) ## More by Ian Poulter > [With Twitter I am in control of whatever it is I want to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/with-twitter-i-am-in-control-of-whatever-it-is-i-want-to-say/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [If I stop playing golf today I can sit back with the kids and reflect on an amazing journey. I do it often. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/if-i-stop-playing-golf-today-i-can-sit-back-with-the-kids-and-reflect/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [Sometimes how I explain myself to the media can come across in a slightly different way to how I would mean to say things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/sometimes-how-i-explain-myself-to-the-media-can-come-across-in-a/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [We look at the poor shots and ask why. Then we work on stability and balance. We're always trying to get the club in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/we-look-at-the-poor-shots-and-ask-why-then-we-work-on-stability-and/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [What I always say is, "Look good, feel good, play good."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/what-i-always-say-is-look-good-feel-good-play-good/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [I may not be in the office as much as I was at the start of the business but when a new range is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/i-may-not-be-in-the-office-as-much-as-i-was-at-the-start-of-the/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [I think 2019 has been a successful season. When I look at the start of the year, that was very, very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/i-think-2019-has-been-a-successful-season-when-i-look-at-the-start-of/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [Unless you are clear in your mind and in a position to think clearly and know where you want to go, with confidence, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/unless-you-are-clear-in-your-mind-and-in-a-position-to-think-clearly/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [I have got closer to some of the guys through Twitter. I don't need to name names but I have found I have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/i-have-got-closer-to-some-of-the-guys-through-twitter-i-don-t-need-to/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [It's not about the pennies as such, but what I've been able to create for the family. I have done that better than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/it-s-not-about-the-pennies-as-such-but-what-i-ve-been-able-to-create/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [I never got to study psychology after leaving school at 15 but I know how to rationalise things and get the best out of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/i-never-got-to-study-psychology-after-leaving-school-at-15-but-i-know/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [When your friends win tournaments it is good for you in a way because it does fire you up. You see what it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/when-your-friends-win-tournaments-it-is-good-for-you-in-a-way-because/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [Long-term effects of taking painkillers and anti-inflammatories are never really good. To find another form of relief has been great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/long-term-effects-of-taking-painkillers-and-anti-inflammatories-are/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [Rest is key. I need to get the right rest time and family time to stay refreshed. My downtime is for family activity. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/rest-is-key-i-need-to-get-the-right-rest-time-and-family-time-to-stay/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [You don't have to be a mathematician to work out that Rory McIlroy is going to have more chances at 25 than I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-mathematician-to-work-out-that-rory-mcilroy-is/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) [Explore all 50 Ian Poulter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are subtle things you can do without crossing the line. 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