--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned how to defend myself at the…" description: "\"I learned how to defend myself at the OSB, not physically but with words.\" — Jan Vertonghen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/jan-vertonghen-7926_defend_i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-os_2005552.jpg" --- # I learned how to defend myself at the OSB, not physically… ![“I learned how to defend myself at the OSB, not physically but with words.” quote by Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/jan-vertonghen-7926_defend_i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-os_2005552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/jan-vertonghen-7926_defend_i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-os_2005552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/jan-vertonghen-7926_defend_i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-os_2005552.jpg) > “I learned how to defend myself at the OSB, not physically but with words.” [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He learned to protect himself verbally rather than physically, emphasizing the power of language in conflict. **In simple terms:** Words can defend better than fists. Key Takeaway Use dialogue to resolve disputes. Themes communication self‑defense confidence sportsmanship Mood reflective determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - team talks - media interviews - public speaking Key Concepts verbal strategy psychological resilience Questions to Reflect On - When is verbal defense insufficient? - How can one improve persuasive skills? A Different Perspective Physical defense may still be necessary in some situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend/) [Defend Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-myself/) [Defend Osb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-osb-3552357/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned/) [Learned Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-defend-1565817/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Osb Physically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/osb-physically-3552358/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [I've always said I learned to defend myself from an opponent coming for a hard hit. Tricks are part of my repertoire; I use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/i-ve-always-said-i-learned-to-defend-myself-from-an-opponent-coming/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [“Here, I've learned to defend myself, I've learned to be stronger, but one thing I haven't learned, won't let myself learn, is how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/here-i-ve-learned-to-defend-myself-i-ve-learned-to-be-stronger-but/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I learned how to defend the ball with my body and to be faster than my opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-dybala/i-learned-how-to-defend-the-ball-with-my-body-and-to-be-faster-than/) [Paulo Dybala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-dybala/) > [At Ajax, I got an education in how to be confident on the ball, my technique, and then, at Atletico, I learned how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-alderweireld/at-ajax-i-got-an-education-in-how-to-be-confident-on-the-ball-my/) [Toby Alderweireld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-alderweireld/) > [I don't really feel the need to defend myself for having a six-pack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sorrentino/i-don-t-really-feel-the-need-to-defend-myself-for-having-a-six-pack/) [Michael Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sorrentino/) > [When someone abuses me I can defend myself, but against praise I am defenceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/when-someone-abuses-me-i-can-defend-myself-but-against-praise-i-am/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“For the record, while it's very charming that you keep trying to protect me, I would like to remind you that I actually know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/for-the-record-while-it-s-very-charming-that-you-keep-trying-to/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [Being a black belt from the Nogueira brothers, I have the obligation to always defend myself well on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-silva/being-a-black-belt-from-the-nogueira-brothers-i-have-the-obligation/) [Anderson Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-silva/) > [My parents taught me the way to deal with being picked on was to be compassionate. I had to defend myself physically, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-rubinek/my-parents-taught-me-the-way-to-deal-with-being-picked-on-was-to-be/) [Saul Rubinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-rubinek/) > [On a few words of what is real in the world I nourish myself. I defend myself against Whatever remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/on-a-few-words-of-what-is-real-in-the-world-i-nourish-myself-i-defend/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [“...I long ago gave up defending humanity. It's beyond me on most days to defend myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/i-long-ago-gave-up-defending-humanity-it-s-beyond-me-on-most-days-to/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“One day I had nothing but my childhood to defend myself…..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameh-elsayed/one-day-i-had-nothing-but-my-childhood-to-defend-myself/) [Sameh Elsayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameh-elsayed/) > [For me, I don't have to defend myself that I am not a racist. I won't go in that discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/for-me-i-don-t-have-to-defend-myself-that-i-am-not-a-racist-i-won-t/) [Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/) > [I cannot defend myself during a trial if there is no charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sooraj-pancholi/i-cannot-defend-myself-during-a-trial-if-there-is-no-charge/) [Sooraj Pancholi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sooraj-pancholi/) > [Swearing's my release. It's the one weapon I have to defend myself against destiny when it elects to strike without pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/swearing-s-my-release-it-s-the-one-weapon-i-have-to-defend-myself/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) ## More by Jan Vertonghen > [I've played with some great players and against some great players, and Sonny is special, he's so humble and I think that you underestimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/i-ve-played-with-some-great-players-and-against-some-great-players/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [It was my task to train hard and respect my team-mates all the time I wasn't playing or was on the bench, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/it-was-my-task-to-train-hard-and-respect-my-team-mates-all-the-time-i/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [The FA Cup is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/the-fa-cup-is-very-important/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [Of course you have Messi and Ronaldo. And then you've got a lot of players who are very close to each other and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/of-course-you-have-messi-and-ronaldo-and-then-you-ve-got-a-lot-of/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [It's easy to reach a certain level with chess, but it's very hard to reach the next level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/it-s-easy-to-reach-a-certain-level-with-chess-but-it-s-very-hard-to/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [Obviously you have to trust the VAR to make the right decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/obviously-you-have-to-trust-the-var-to-make-the-right-decision/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [To play for a team in the Premier League would be amazing and that's what I am going for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/to-play-for-a-team-in-the-premier-league-would-be-amazing-and-that-s/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [The pace is unbelievable in the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/the-pace-is-unbelievable-in-the-premier-league/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [The interest of a great club like Barcelona is certainly flattering. That is confirmation that I am doing a good job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/the-interest-of-a-great-club-like-barcelona-is-certainly-flattering/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [My favourite thing, what I want of course, is to play in the Champions League with Tottenham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/my-favourite-thing-what-i-want-of-course-is-to-play-in-the-champions/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [Revenge - I don't think in these words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/revenge-i-don-t-think-in-these-words/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [If I play, even at left-back, I do my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/if-i-play-even-at-left-back-i-do-my-best/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [I have never fought in my life but I can be very angry, especially on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/i-have-never-fought-in-my-life-but-i-can-be-very-angry-especially-on/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [I can play at left-back and I can help the team at times. But everyone knows I am not a left-back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/i-can-play-at-left-back-and-i-can-help-the-team-at-times-but-everyone/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [The atmosphere in England is absolutely amazing and I'd be delighted to play in the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/the-atmosphere-in-england-is-absolutely-amazing-and-i-d-be-delighted/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) [Explore all 86 Jan Vertonghen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) ## More Defend quotes > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [The pop culture has become more frenetic. There are more forces at work that are far more invasive. However, I think it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/the-pop-culture-has-become-more-frenetic-there-are-more-forces-at/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [I don't need a perfect person. I just need someone who will defend me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-need-a-perfect-person-i-just-need-someone-who-will-defend-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Swearing's my release. It's the one weapon I have to defend myself against destiny when it elects to strike without pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/swearing-s-my-release-it-s-the-one-weapon-i-have-to-defend-myself/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) > [Having kids is the deal-breaker on shyness! Once you have a baby, you learn to speak up loud and clear to protect them, defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/having-kids-is-the-deal-breaker-on-shyness-once-you-have-a-baby-you/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [We will defend ourselves, and we have full rights to do so. If the authorities try to destroy us, we have the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-udaltsov/we-will-defend-ourselves-and-we-have-full-rights-to-do-so-if-the/) [Sergei Udaltsov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-udaltsov/) > [I definitely want to defend my 145 belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-nunes/i-definitely-want-to-defend-my-145-belt/) [Amanda Nunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-nunes/) > [In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were exterminated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/in-1911-turkey-established-gun-control-from-1915-to-1917-1-5-million/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [“There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/there-are-always-those-who-take-it-upon-themselves-to-defend-god-as/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“defend women’s right to be wrong, at least occasionally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/defend-women-s-right-to-be-wrong-at-least-occasionally/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [There are a lot of things you can practise to unsettle teams that defend deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/there-are-a-lot-of-things-you-can-practise-to-unsettle-teams-that/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [The more you defend a lie, the angrier you become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-more-you-defend-a-lie-the-angrier-you-become/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I'm very willing to defend creative things that I believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-m-very-willing-to-defend-creative-things-that-i-believe-in/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [Sometimes it is difficult to play against teams who just drop back and try to defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/sometimes-it-is-difficult-to-play-against-teams-who-just-drop-back/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) [Browse all 993 Defend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned how to defend myself at the OSB, not physically but with words.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jan Vertonghen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-osb-not-physically-but-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defend" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-osb-not-physically-but-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/jan-vertonghen-7926_defend_i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-os_2005552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/jan-vertonghen-7926_defend_i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-os_2005552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/171/jan-vertonghen-7926_defend_i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-os_2005552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned how to defend myself at the OSB, not physically but with words.” — Jan Vertonghen", "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": "Jan Vertonghen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned how to defend myself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-osb-not-physically-but-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/i-learned-how-to-defend-myself-at-the-osb-not-physically-but-with/#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 } } ] } ```