--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I worked very hard. I felt I could play…" description: "\"I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.\" — Jim Abbott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/jim-abbott-20375_felt_i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-t_1542295.jpg" --- # I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only… ![“I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.” quote by Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/jim-abbott-20375_felt_i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-t_1542295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/jim-abbott-20375_felt_i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-t_1542295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/jim-abbott-20375_felt_i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-t_1542295.jpg) > “I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.” [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-doubt is the only true obstacle to success; internal barriers stop us more than external ones. **In simple terms:** Self-doubt blocks achievement. Key Takeaway Believe in your ability and act. Themes confidence self-improvement determination Mood motivational determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - athletics - career challenges - personal goals Key Concepts sports psychology mindset personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What internal doubts hold you back? - How can you turn self-awareness into action? A Different Perspective External factors can still pose real challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-play-1567839/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-game-239338/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worked/) [Worked Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worked-hard-349616/) ## Related quotes > [I've always felt that, when I play, I have never let anybody down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-ve-always-felt-that-when-i-play-i-have-never-let-anybody-down/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I always felt I could play well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-cross/i-always-felt-i-could-play-well/) [Rob Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-cross/) > [I always felt that if I did the right thing, that if I trained hard and worked hard, I'd be rewarded somehow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micky-ward/i-always-felt-that-if-i-did-the-right-thing-that-if-i-trained-hard/) [Micky Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micky-ward/) > [We worked so hard, spent so much time in weight room and in camps to be where we are today. We wanted to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-davis/we-worked-so-hard-spent-so-much-time-in-weight-room-and-in-camps-to/) [Anthony Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-davis/) > [I cherish everything I have because I worked hard for each one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/i-cherish-everything-i-have-because-i-worked-hard-for-each-one/) [Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/) > [I know I always worked hard on making sure we came out with the best possible product and of course we were working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-squire/i-know-i-always-worked-hard-on-making-sure-we-came-out-with-the-best/) [Chris Squire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-squire/) > [We worked very hard to make extensions very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-baker/we-worked-very-hard-to-make-extensions-very-simple/) [Mitchell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-baker/) > [I've always worked very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/i-ve-always-worked-very-hard/) [Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/) > [I put in my time, I worked hard and I followed my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-put-in-my-time-i-worked-hard-and-i-followed-my-dreams/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I think anybody that's worked hard and has built something and has been successful can testify to how, you know, how wonderful that was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-think-anybody-that-s-worked-hard-and-has-built-something-and-has/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [Before babies, I worked very hard to make sure I understood my surroundings and figured out where I fit in the world, whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/before-babies-i-worked-very-hard-to-make-sure-i-understood-my/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I've worked hard, but I've been lucky too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-bruce/i-ve-worked-hard-but-i-ve-been-lucky-too/) [Fiona Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-bruce/) > [I have amazing parents. They had worked hard all their lives for me, and when I started to make money, I wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noemie-lenoir/i-have-amazing-parents-they-had-worked-hard-all-their-lives-for-me/) [Noemie Lenoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noemie-lenoir/) > [I worked at what I did, I worked hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/i-worked-at-what-i-did-i-worked-hard/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [I've worked hard my entire life from the age of 14.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenya-moore/i-ve-worked-hard-my-entire-life-from-the-age-of-14/) [Kenya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenya-moore/) ## More by Jim Abbott > [I still get a lot of letters from kids and parents who face different challenges and disabilities. I share some of the lessons that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-still-get-a-lot-of-letters-from-kids-and-parents-who-face-different/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [There are millions of people out there ignoring disabilities and accomplishing incredible feats. I learned you can learn to do things differently, but do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/there-are-millions-of-people-out-there-ignoring-disabilities-and/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I believe that challenges can push us beyond what we might otherwise be able to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-believe-that-challenges-can-push-us-beyond-what-we-might-otherwise/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I benefited from tremendous encouragement as a kid. So many people reached out to me, helped me, and believed in me even when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-benefited-from-tremendous-encouragement-as-a-kid-so-many-people/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I had an incredible experience living in New York, playing for the Yankees, to go through all of the things I did, including the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-had-an-incredible-experience-living-in-new-york-playing-for-the/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [Find something you love, and go after it, with all of your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/find-something-you-love-and-go-after-it-with-all-of-your-heart/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I loved throwing a baseball. It is so important to find something in life you feel crazy about. Because you are so passionate you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-loved-throwing-a-baseball-it-is-so-important-to-find-something-in/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [My advice is that you go and do something that you are really driven to do. I loved to play baseball and, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/my-advice-is-that-you-go-and-do-something-that-you-are-really-driven/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I knew how far a little boy or girl could run with 50 words of reassurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-knew-how-far-a-little-boy-or-girl-could-run-with-50-words-of/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [What's cool about baseball is you don't have to see someone for years, but when you see them, you just hustle up and give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/what-s-cool-about-baseball-is-you-don-t-have-to-see-someone-for-years/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [One of the beautiful things about baseball is the history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/one-of-the-beautiful-things-about-baseball-is-the-history/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I think you need optimism. I believe that's incredibly important that you be optimistic that you can do things different and still do them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-think-you-need-optimism-i-believe-that-s-incredibly-important-that/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I always wanted to be a shortstop so I could play more often!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-shortstop-so-i-could-play-more-often/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [You know I still get nervous speaking in front of people. Speaking reminds me of pitching in that way. No matter how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/you-know-i-still-get-nervous-speaking-in-front-of-people-speaking/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I want my career to be judged by what I did on the field. I appreciate the honors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-want-my-career-to-be-judged-by-what-i-did-on-the-field-i-appreciate/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) [Explore all 31 Jim Abbott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) ## More Felt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [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/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [I never felt like running away from my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paresh-rawal/i-never-felt-like-running-away-from-my-dreams/) [Paresh Rawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paresh-rawal/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) [Browse all 9,592 Felt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Abbott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-the-game-the-only-thing-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Felt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-the-game-the-only-thing-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/jim-abbott-20375_felt_i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-t_1542295.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/jim-abbott-20375_felt_i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-t_1542295.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/jim-abbott-20375_felt_i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-t_1542295.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I worked very hard. I felt I could play the game. The only thing that could stop me was myself.” — Jim Abbott", "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": "Jim Abbott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I worked very hard. I felt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-the-game-the-only-thing-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-worked-very-hard-i-felt-i-could-play-the-game-the-only-thing-that/#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 } } ] } ```