--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or…" description: "\"Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or 30 years old? Probably not, but I like to compete. I like to go out and play the game hard.\" — Jim Thome" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/jim-thome-26505_ability_is-my-ability-what-it-was-at-say-25-or-3_2103148.jpg" --- # Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or 30 years old?… ![“Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or 30 years old? Probably not, but I like to compete. I like to go out and play the game hard.” quote by Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/jim-thome-26505_ability_is-my-ability-what-it-was-at-say-25-or-3_2103148.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/jim-thome-26505_ability_is-my-ability-what-it-was-at-say-25-or-3_2103148.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/jim-thome-26505_ability_is-my-ability-what-it-was-at-say-25-or-3_2103148.jpg) > “Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or 30 years old? Probably not, but I like to compete. I like to go out and play the game hard.” [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges a decline in ability with age but remains motivated by competition, choosing to engage vigorously in the game of life. **In simple terms:** Even if abilities wane, stay competitive and play hard. Key Takeaway Keep a competitive spirit regardless of age. Themes competition age self‑assessment motivation Mood energetic determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - joining a senior league - learning a new skill - participating in community tournaments - setting personal performance goals Key Concepts sports psychology lifelong learning self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How can you adapt competition to your current abilities? - What does “playing the game hard” mean beyond sports? A Different Perspective May ignore physical limitations that could cause injury. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [I like to compete. I like that feeling that you're never bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aspen-ladd/i-like-to-compete-i-like-that-feeling-that-you-re-never-bored/) [Aspen Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aspen-ladd/) > [I like to win; I like to compete; I like to sack the quarterback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-babin/i-like-to-win-i-like-to-compete-i-like-to-sack-the-quarterback/) [Jason Babin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-babin/) > [Compete Like You Train or Train Like You Compete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam/compete-like-you-train-or-train-like-you-compete/) AnuPam > [I like to win, I like to compete and I like to sack the quarterback. I imagine there's a team out there looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-babin/i-like-to-win-i-like-to-compete-and-i-like-to-sack-the-quarterback-i/) [Jason Babin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-babin/) > [Practice like it's competition and compete like it's another day on the practice court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/practice-like-it-s-competition-and-compete-like-it-s-another-day-on/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I'm a competitor. I like compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bam-adebayo/i-m-a-competitor-i-like-compete/) [Bam Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bam-adebayo/) > [I learnt since I was a child growing up in a small village in the Czech Republic that I had to be like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-nedved/i-learnt-since-i-was-a-child-growing-up-in-a-small-village-in-the/) [Pavel Nedved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-nedved/) > [I like to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-lendl/i-like-to-compete/) [Ivan Lendl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-lendl/) > [I'm a competitor at the highest level. I like to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-m-a-competitor-at-the-highest-level-i-like-to-compete/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [I like to compete. I think competition brings out the best in anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tillman/i-like-to-compete-i-think-competition-brings-out-the-best-in-anybody/) [Charles Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tillman/) > [I just love the game. I just like to compete, that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/i-just-love-the-game-i-just-like-to-compete-that-s-it/) [Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/) > [I enjoy competing, and I love to get out there, and I feel like I could compete with anyone in the world, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urijah-faber/i-enjoy-competing-and-i-love-to-get-out-there-and-i-feel-like-i-could/) [Urijah Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urijah-faber/) > [The thing is, I'm a competitor by nature. I like to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/the-thing-is-i-m-a-competitor-by-nature-i-like-to-compete/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) > [The young like to compete amongst each other, but as they grow older, the more they work together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-young-like-to-compete-amongst-each-other-but-as-they-grow-older/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like to compete. So, any time I get to go live - which means go all out - that's what I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-like-to-compete-so-any-time-i-get-to-go-live-which-means-go-all-out/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) ## More by Jim Thome > [ The passion is my favorite part of the city \[Philadelphia\]. You go from 'we love you' to 'we hate you' back to 'you walk… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/the-passion-is-my-favorite-part-of-the-city-philadelphia-you-go-from/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [I don't really like filling my brain with a lot of stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/i-don-t-really-like-filling-my-brain-with-a-lot-of-stuff/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [When do you know it's time to say, 'OK, that's it?' That is the most difficult part of any decision like that because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/when-do-you-know-it-s-time-to-say-ok-that-s-it-that-is-the-most/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [You always want to get at-bats. You always want to contribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/you-always-want-to-get-at-bats-you-always-want-to-contribute/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [My favorite thing to do is still to go back to Peoria, go to my cabin and hunt with the boys. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/my-favorite-thing-to-do-is-still-to-go-back-to-peoria-go-to-my-cabin/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [It's tough to strike out. Believe me. I hate striking out. It's no fun. It's embarrassing. But there really isn't anything I can do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/it-s-tough-to-strike-out-believe-me-i-hate-striking-out-it-s-no-fun/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [If I had to give advice about parents, it would be this: Value your relationships with them. Those relationships are what you stand for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/if-i-had-to-give-advice-about-parents-it-would-be-this-value-your/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [Not playing every day, I kind of healed up a little bit from the little injuries that I had the year before. Then, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/not-playing-every-day-i-kind-of-healed-up-a-little-bit-from-the/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [This is a tremendous honor (winning the 2002 Roberto Clemente Award), to be considered in the same class as Roberto Clemente. He is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/this-is-a-tremendous-honor-winning-the-2002-roberto-clemente-award-to/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [My family has loved Minnesota and that was one of the big reasons we decided to come back. For me, family decisions were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/my-family-has-loved-minnesota-and-that-was-one-of-the-big-reasons-we/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [Every player that plays for any organization, having great fans on your side every night is a great thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/every-player-that-plays-for-any-organization-having-great-fans-on/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [The strongest thing I put into my body is steak and eggs. I just eat. I'm not a supplement guy. Steroids are not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/the-strongest-thing-i-put-into-my-body-is-steak-and-eggs-i-just-eat-i/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [Charisma's good every night. Something special is always about to happen. You've got to believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/charisma-s-good-every-night-something-special-is-always-about-to/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [I sign every autograph I can for kids because I remember myself at that age. I think it's ridiculous that some guys won't sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/i-sign-every-autograph-i-can-for-kids-because-i-remember-myself-at/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) > [We all make mistakes and sometimes you say things and you really don't realize what you're saying at that moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thome/we-all-make-mistakes-and-sometimes-you-say-things-and-you-really-don/) [Jim Thome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) [Explore all 21 Jim Thome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thome/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Is my ability what it was at, say, 25 or 30 years old? 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