--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the thing about that was I was…" description: "\"I think the thing about that was I was always willing to work; I was not the fastest or biggest player but I was determined to be the best football pla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-a_265960.png" --- # I think the thing about that was I was always willing to… ![“I think the thing about that was I was always willing to work; I was not the fastest or biggest player but I was determined to be the best football player I could be on the football field and I think I was able to accomplish that through hard work.” quote by Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-a_265960.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-a_265960.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-a_265960.png) > “I think the thing about that was I was always willing to work; I was not the fastest or biggest player but I was determined to be the best football player I could be on the football field and I think I was able to accomplish that through hard work.” [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 and determination can outweigh natural size or speed in achieving excellence. **In simple terms:** Hard work beats talent when combined with determination. Key Takeaway Work hard, stay determined. Themes determination hard work sports excellence Mood motivational inspirational Type sports personal development When to use this quote - training - career development - team sports - personal improvement Key Concepts motivation self‑discipline goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What habits sustain long‑term determination? - How can you leverage effort over innate ability? A Different Perspective Talent alone isn’t enough without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Accomplish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplish/) [Ball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-player/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Best football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-football/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Determined Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined-best-553476/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-field/) [Football player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-player/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Player Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-determined-644089/) [Player Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-football-483526/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-work/) ## Related quotes > [A quarterback is always going to be the most valuable player on a football field because he touches the ball every single offensive play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/a-quarterback-is-always-going-to-be-the-most-valuable-player-on-a/) [J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [I want to see a player on the football field. I want to see what kind of teammate they are, what kind of leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-see-a-player-on-the-football-field-i-want-to-see-what-kind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a Tottenham player and am determined to go back into pre-season as fit as possible with the aim of impressing the gaffer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/i-m-a-tottenham-player-and-am-determined-to-go-back-into-pre-season/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [There are all kinds of smiles. On the football field I mostly used the one where the hawk spots the dove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/there-are-all-kinds-of-smiles-on-the-football-field-i-mostly-used-the/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [You've got to go out there and play your best. It's about what you do on the football field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/you-ve-got-to-go-out-there-and-play-your-best-it-s-about-what-you-do/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [You can run on a football field but you can't hide out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-huff/you-can-run-on-a-football-field-but-you-can-t-hide-out-there/) [Sam Huff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-huff/) > [No one can ask honestly or hopefully to be delivered from temptation unless he has himself honestly and firmly determined to do the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/no-one-can-ask-honestly-or-hopefully-to-be-delivered-from-temptation/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I think my strengths perhaps are that I'm determined. I may not be the best climber in the world, but I do like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-think-my-strengths-perhaps-are-that-i-m-determined-i-may-not-be-the/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [I am determined and never give up. Ever. I always do my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/i-am-determined-and-never-give-up-ever-i-always-do-my-best/) [Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/) > [Be determined to be the best not looking back at regrets how you measure success is by how many people you bless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-determined-to-be-the-best-not-looking-back-at-regrets-how-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Success is determined by how best you can utilize your time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/success-is-determined-by-how-best-you-can-utilize-your-time/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Losing hurts me. I was determined to be the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/losing-hurts-me-i-was-determined-to-be-the-best/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [I'm determined to become the best backyard athlete ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethanie-mattek-sands/i-m-determined-to-become-the-best-backyard-athlete-ever/) [Bethanie Mattek-Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethanie-mattek-sands/) > [You can't compete with this guy. He's a football player, and football players know how to treat a woman right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-hill/you-can-t-compete-with-this-guy-he-s-a-football-player-and-football/) [Hank Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-hill/) > [I don't judge my self-worth as a football player. Football is something I love. It's a fun career deal, but it's not what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/i-don-t-judge-my-self-worth-as-a-football-player-football-is/) [Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/) ## 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/) > [I think just what my parents instilled in me was hard work and being able to always go out there and focus and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-just-what-my-parents-instilled-in-me-was-hard-work-and-being/) [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/) > [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. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the thing about that was I was always willing to work; I was not the fastest or biggest player but I was determined to be the best football player I could be on the football field and I think I was able to accomplish that through hard work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerry Rice" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-always-willing-to-work-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-always-willing-to-work-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-a_265960.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-a_265960.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/jerry-rice-11220_able_i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-a_265960.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the thing about that was I was always willing to work; I was not the fastest or biggest player but I…” — Jerry Rice", "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": "Jerry Rice", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the thing about that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-always-willing-to-work-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-think-the-thing-about-that-was-i-was-always-willing-to-work-i-was/#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 } } ] } ```