--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always thought of myself as some sort…" description: "\"I always thought of myself as some sort of athlete until I started playing golf a couple years ago.\" — James Caan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/james-caan-10458_athlete_i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort_2944806.jpg" --- # I always thought of myself as some sort of athlete until I… ![“I always thought of myself as some sort of athlete until I started playing golf a couple years ago.” quote by James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/james-caan-10458_athlete_i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort_2944806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/james-caan-10458_athlete_i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort_2944806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/james-caan-10458_athlete_i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort_2944806.jpg) > “I always thought of myself as some sort of athlete until I started playing golf a couple years ago.” [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He redefined his identity from athlete to golfer, showing self‑reinvention. **In simple terms:** You can become something new at any age. Key Takeaway Embrace new identities. Themes identity reinvention sports aging Mood motivational reflective Type personal development inspirational When to use this quote - career change - hobby development - senior fitness Key Concepts psychology career transition lifelong learning Questions to Reflect On - What new skill will you pursue? - How does identity shift affect confidence? A Different Perspective Age can limit physical ability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Athlete Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete-started-4408729/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Golf Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf-couple-4408730/) [Playing golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-golf/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Started Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-playing/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [That's the reason why I started playing golf, watching the majors and realizing that winning them is what I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-korda/that-s-the-reason-why-i-started-playing-golf-watching-the-majors-and/) [Nelly Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-korda/) > [The greatest thing for me is when someone comes up and says, 'My son started playing golf because of you,' or, 'I started playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/the-greatest-thing-for-me-is-when-someone-comes-up-and-says-my-son/) [John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/) > [I started playing golf after a broken knee led me to quit my career as an elite gymnast. It wasn't long before I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-spiranac/i-started-playing-golf-after-a-broken-knee-led-me-to-quit-my-career/) [Paige Spiranac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-spiranac/) > [I played a lot of other sports at school and just one day the golf bug bit me and I started playing serious golf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/retief-goosen/i-played-a-lot-of-other-sports-at-school-and-just-one-day-the-golf/) [Retief Goosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/retief-goosen/) > [I didn't start playing golf until '94, when the strike cut the season short. Never having played as a kid definitely makes it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-didn-t-start-playing-golf-until-94-when-the-strike-cut-the-season/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [I'm playing golf. I ride my mountain bike. A lot. I think it's very important for me and other people my age to continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-m-playing-golf-i-ride-my-mountain-bike-a-lot-i-think-it-s-very/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Playing golf is like eating. It's something which has to come naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/playing-golf-is-like-eating-it-s-something-which-has-to-come-naturally/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [We're not playing golf out there where everyone is quiet in your backswing. I usually don't hear what's going on. I'm just locked in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tucker/we-re-not-playing-golf-out-there-where-everyone-is-quiet-in-your/) [Justin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tucker/) > [I have a project at HBO and one at the Family Channel coming that are being looked at. Aside from that I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/i-have-a-project-at-hbo-and-one-at-the-family-channel-coming-that-are/) [Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/) > [I was detained a couple of times but that was for not handing in homework because I was playing golf or not present because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-was-detained-a-couple-of-times-but-that-was-for-not-handing-in/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [It is almost impossible to remember how tragic a place the world is when one is playing golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson-lynd/it-is-almost-impossible-to-remember-how-tragic-a-place-the-world-is/) [Robert Wilson Lynd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson-lynd/) > [There's always motivation coming into Majors. If you can't get up and get excited to win one of these, then you probably shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-dufner/there-s-always-motivation-coming-into-majors-if-you-can-t-get-up-and/) [Jason Dufner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-dufner/) > [It's nice to worry about playing golf and not all the other stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/it-s-nice-to-worry-about-playing-golf-and-not-all-the-other-stuff/) [John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/) > [If your opponent is playing several shots in vain attempts to extricate himself from a bunker, do not stand near him and audibly count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-vardon/if-your-opponent-is-playing-several-shots-in-vain-attempts-to/) [Harry Vardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-vardon/) > [The interesting thing is that everyone in golf is just nice. You learn a lot about people playing golf: their integrity, how they play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-interesting-thing-is-that-everyone-in-golf-is-just-nice-you-learn/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by James Caan > [I loved 'Funny Lady' for whatever reason. People say they didn't know I could sing and dance. Well, nobody ever asks me - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-loved-funny-lady-for-whatever-reason-people-say-they-didn-t-know-i/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [It's hard to tell writers, especially in movies, that words are secondary. Behavior is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/it-s-hard-to-tell-writers-especially-in-movies-that-words-are/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I never saw my dad cry. My son saw me cry. My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-never-saw-my-dad-cry-my-son-saw-me-cry-my-dad-never-told-me-he/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I have nothing against these big CGI movies, but there are not enough of the other ones - the ones with stories about character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-have-nothing-against-these-big-cgi-movies-but-there-are-not-enough/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I don't think silicone makes a girl good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-don-t-think-silicone-makes-a-girl-good-or-bad/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I play a guy who believes he's a king. He's the most common man in the world; in fact his family, like his suits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-play-a-guy-who-believes-he-s-a-king-he-s-the-most-common-man-in-the/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I'm an ultra-conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-m-an-ultra-conservative/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [Unless I love something or hate it, I don't want to deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/unless-i-love-something-or-hate-it-i-don-t-want-to-deal-with-it/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [To get over my divorce, I got a prescription to live at the Playboy Mansion for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/to-get-over-my-divorce-i-got-a-prescription-to-live-at-the-playboy/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [Showing up every day isn't enough. There are a lot of guys who show up every day who shouldn't have showed up at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/showing-up-every-day-isn-t-enough-there-are-a-lot-of-guys-who-show-up/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [A lot of young actors look up to me, and I wouldn't trade that for any money in the world. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/a-lot-of-young-actors-look-up-to-me-and-i-wouldn-t-trade-that-for-any/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [One night I went over to get some dope from some Hollywood tough guy. After I left, my son Scott, who was only fifteen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/one-night-i-went-over-to-get-some-dope-from-some-hollywood-tough-guy/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [It's always more interesting to play the villain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/it-s-always-more-interesting-to-play-the-villain/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [What's the difference between sex and love? I have four wives and five kids. I apparently don't know the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/what-s-the-difference-between-sex-and-love-i-have-four-wives-and-five/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [I lost my passion for work. No, that's a negative statement. I just had a bigger passion for something else, for my son, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-lost-my-passion-for-work-no-that-s-a-negative-statement-i-just-had/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) [Explore all 65 James Caan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always thought of myself as some sort of athlete until I started playing golf a couple years ago.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Caan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort-of-athlete-until-i-started/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athlete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort-of-athlete-until-i-started/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/james-caan-10458_athlete_i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort_2944806.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/james-caan-10458_athlete_i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort_2944806.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/james-caan-10458_athlete_i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort_2944806.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always thought of myself as some sort of athlete until I started playing golf a couple years ago.” — James Caan", "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": "James Caan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always thought of myself as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort-of-athlete-until-i-started/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-some-sort-of-athlete-until-i-started/#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 } } ] } ```