--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think just what my parents instilled in…" description: "\"I think just what my parents instilled in me was hard work and being able to always go out there and focus and be 100%. I took that work ethic into the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-just-what-my-parents-instilled-i_129508.png" --- # I think just what my parents instilled in me was hard work… ![“I think just what my parents instilled in me was hard work and being able to always go out there and focus and be 100%. I took that work ethic into the NFL and everyday I always gave 100% and never wanted anything to be handed to me. I wanted to earn it. And every time I stepped on that football…” quote by Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-just-what-my-parents-instilled-i_129508.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-just-what-my-parents-instilled-i_129508.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d7/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-just-what-my-parents-instilled-i_129508.png) > “I think just what my parents instilled in me was hard work and being able to always go out there and focus and be 100%. I took that work ethic into the NFL and everyday I always gave 100% and never wanted anything to be handed to me. I wanted to earn it. And every time I stepped on that football field during practice I wanted to leave that football field with learning something about what the practice was about for me that day...” [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work, focus, and earning respect through effort define success in sports and life. **In simple terms:** Giving your all and earning achievements builds lasting value. Key Takeaway Give 100% and earn your rewards. Themes work ethic focus earned success determination Mood proud motivated Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - career development - academic pursuits Key Concepts self‑discipline goal setting personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance effort with smart strategy? - What habits sustain high performance daily? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on effort may overlook strategic planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-field/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) ## Related quotes > [That's one thing that I've always wanted: to make my own decisions and not to be pushed. That has happened in my career, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xabi-alonso/that-s-one-thing-that-i-ve-always-wanted-to-make-my-own-decisions-and/) [Xabi Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xabi-alonso/) > [That's what all of us want, why we're getting involved in so many campaigns - we want to leave football in a better place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-kirby/that-s-what-all-of-us-want-why-we-re-getting-involved-in-so-many/) [Fran Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-kirby/) > [When you're at a football club, the heart and soul of it is bigger than a win or a loss, so I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/when-you-re-at-a-football-club-the-heart-and-soul-of-it-is-bigger/) [Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/) > [I have fun like a child in the street. When the day comes when I'm not enjoying it, I will leave football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-have-fun-like-a-child-in-the-street-when-the-day-comes-when-i-m-not/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [It doesn't matter who you are, football's a business. At some stage you're going to have to leave a football club; that's just normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermain-defoe/it-doesn-t-matter-who-you-are-football-s-a-business-at-some-stage-you/) [Jermain Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermain-defoe/) > [I will not play a farewell game with the national team. I would like to thank the federation for expressing an interest. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-maldini/i-will-not-play-a-farewell-game-with-the-national-team-i-would-like/) [Paolo Maldini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-maldini/) > [I am preparing myself to leave football. 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Getting hit so many times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-played-the-game-for-20-years-and-i-think-that-kept-me-on-the/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Montana and I had a chemistry that was unbelievable. When I first came into the league he told me I added five years to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/montana-and-i-had-a-chemistry-that-was-unbelievable-when-i-first-came/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [To me it was never about what I accomplished on the football field, it was about the way I played the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/to-me-it-was-never-about-what-i-accomplished-on-the-football-field-it/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I think the thing about that was I was always willing to work; I was not the fastest or biggest player but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-always-willing-to-work-i-was/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) ## More by Jerry Rice > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [My first experience with football was not very good because I didn't plan on playing football. I was just playing hookie one day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/my-first-experience-with-football-was-not-very-good-because-i-didn-t/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [During the offseason, I didn't take any time off. And I played this game for over 20 years. So right after the season, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/during-the-offseason-i-didn-t-take-any-time-off-and-i-played-this/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [The chemistry between a quarterback and a receiver is almost like a dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/the-chemistry-between-a-quarterback-and-a-receiver-is-almost-like-a/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [The same thing I applied to football, I applied to trying to be an actor and hopefully it came off well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/the-same-thing-i-applied-to-football-i-applied-to-trying-to-be-an/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Like I said, repetition in practice and hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/like-i-said-repetition-in-practice-and-hard-work/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I think the thing about that was I was always willing to work; I was not the fastest or biggest player but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-always-willing-to-work-i-was/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Monday Night Football. That was everything to me because you get a chance to show everybody what you're capable of. It's only two teams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/monday-night-football-that-was-everything-to-me-because-you-get-a/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Montana and I had a chemistry that was unbelievable. When I first came into the league he told me I added five years to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/montana-and-i-had-a-chemistry-that-was-unbelievable-when-i-first-came/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I had that hunger, that desire, to be successful and I wasn’t going to let anything stand in my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-had-that-hunger-that-desire-to-be-successful-and-i-wasn-t-going-to/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I think with my hands, it was catching a lot of footballs and working with my father during the summer because he would always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-with-my-hands-it-was-catching-a-lot-of-footballs-and-working/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Defensive backs are the best players on the field. But when you get an exceptional player like a Deion Sanders or a Darrell Green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/defensive-backs-are-the-best-players-on-the-field-but-when-you-get-an/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I was always in search of a perfect game and I never got it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-was-always-in-search-of-a-perfect-game-and-i-never-got-it/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [There is still a lot of football in me and I enjoy watching the players go out there and be the best players they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/there-is-still-a-lot-of-football-in-me-and-i-enjoy-watching-the/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [I think I just went into a system that was willing to utilize me and gave me opportunities and I felt fortunate to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-i-just-went-into-a-system-that-was-willing-to-utilize-me-and/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) [Explore all 61 Jerry Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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