--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had a choice to be lazy or lean - if I…" description: "\"I had a choice to be lazy or lean - if I hadn't changed, thing probably would catch up with me.\" — Jim Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/jim-brown-2991_best-football_i-had-a-choice-to-be-lazy-or-lean-if-i-h_3158177.png" --- # I had a choice to be lazy or lean - if I hadn't changed… ![“I had a choice to be lazy or lean - if I hadn't changed, thing probably would catch up with me.” quote by Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/jim-brown-2991_best-football_i-had-a-choice-to-be-lazy-or-lean-if-i-h_3158177.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/jim-brown-2991_best-football_i-had-a-choice-to-be-lazy-or-lean-if-i-h_3158177.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/jim-brown-2991_best-football_i-had-a-choice-to-be-lazy-or-lean-if-i-h_3158177.png) > “I had a choice to be lazy or lean - if I hadn't changed, thing probably would catch up with me.” [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing effort over laziness leads to continual improvement and prevents stagnation. **In simple terms:** Work beats laziness. Key Takeaway Stay active, avoid complacency. Themes discipline self‑improvement choice Mood pragmatic encouraging Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - fitness routine - skill development - career progression - academic study Key Concepts behavioral economics habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What small action can replace a lazy habit today? - How can you sustain motivation long‑term? A Different Perspective Laziness can be a symptom of underlying burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-football/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Choice Lazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-lazy-1868431/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Hadn Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hadn-changed-1999487/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazy/) [Lazy Lean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazy-lean-5697532/) [Lean Hadn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lean-hadn-5697533/) [Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl/) ## Related quotes > [Poverty is a choice lazy people make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chizim/poverty-is-a-choice-lazy-people-make/) [Chizim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chizim/) > [Be patient with the negative people of the world. 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But you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/you-have-to-feel-you-re-the-best-at-what-you-do-you-don-t-have-to/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [Give me a 6 pack, half-hour of rest and lets go play them again - We can beat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lambert/give-me-a-6-pack-half-hour-of-rest-and-lets-go-play-them-again-we-can/) [Jack Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lambert/) > [I believe that if you die trying to be your best, the world is still a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-believe-that-if-you-die-trying-to-be-your-best-the-world-is-still-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I want to keep winning-the hell with the record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/i-want-to-keep-winning-the-hell-with-the-record/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [We didn't win a Super Bowl together, and that's something I'll always regret - not knowing what that feels like. But you and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/we-didn-t-win-a-super-bowl-together-and-that-s-something-i-ll-always/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) ## More by Jim Brown > [The three greatest people in my life as a young person were white, my high school superintendent, my high school coach and a -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-as-a-young-person-were-white-my/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [Capitalistic society teaches kids to be No. 1, but true self-esteem doesn't come from money. It doesn't come from winning the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/capitalistic-society-teaches-kids-to-be-no-1-but-true-self-esteem/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [The three greatest people in my life as a young person were white. I'm not a person that really deals in color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-as-a-young-person-were-white-i-m/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [Nobody I ever broke bread with - and I see players all the time - talked about using their head running the football. 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Success is there for those who want it, plan for it, and take action to achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/success-is-not-only-for-the-elite-success-is-there-for-those-who-want/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [You have to put money in its proper perspective. The way it is positioned in the culture is like it is the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/you-have-to-put-money-in-its-proper-perspective-the-way-it-is/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [People think that coaches are always right, but it's difficult to teach a runner how to run, because every runner is different. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/people-think-that-coaches-are-always-right-but-it-s-difficult-to/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [We have to go back to the memories of 9-11. If that memory doesn't do anything to you as an American, then you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/we-have-to-go-back-to-the-memories-of-9-11-if-that-memory-doesn-t-do/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [The so-called incorrigibles were not the way people said they were. I found a lot of character in some of these people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-so-called-incorrigibles-were-not-the-way-people-said-they-were-i/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [I never had a father, really. My great-grandmother raised me. But I was in this country where I got help from people that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/i-never-had-a-father-really-my-great-grandmother-raised-me-but-i-was/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [One of the most fantastic experiences I ever had was as a decathlete. I finished fifth in the nation my senior year of high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/one-of-the-most-fantastic-experiences-i-ever-had-was-as-a-decathlete/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [When you think of the sacrifices our firefighters make, think about the service of soldiers in foreign lands and listen to their lives, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/when-you-think-of-the-sacrifices-our-firefighters-make-think-about/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [Young black men in this country have to understand that they have a responsibility. They cannot be the enemy in their own neighborhoods and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/young-black-men-in-this-country-have-to-understand-that-they-have-a/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) [Explore all 143 Jim Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) ## More Best football quotes > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. 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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/) > [I play my best football when I'm calm mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kane/i-play-my-best-football-when-i-m-calm-mentally/) [Harry Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kane/) > [George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and probably the best footballer who never made it to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/george-best-was-one-of-the-most-talented-players-of-all-time-and/) [Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/) > [I'm happy to be in the centre for Wales - that's my favourite position and where I play my best football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsey/i-m-happy-to-be-in-the-centre-for-wales-that-s-my-favourite-position/) [Aaron Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsey/) > [English football is different: always on the attack. Although one thing is clear. The best football is the Italian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-batistuta/english-football-is-different-always-on-the-attack-although-one-thing/) [Gabriel Batistuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-batistuta/) > [I want to keep winning-the hell with the record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/i-want-to-keep-winning-the-hell-with-the-record/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/playing-football-is-very-simple-but-playing-simple-football-is-the/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [I can say I am playing some of the best football of my career at 31. 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