Body Quote by John Updike
“I know how to choke. Given even a splinter-thin opportunity to let my side down and destroy my own score, I will seize it. Not only does ice water not run through my veins, but what runs there has a boiling point lower than body temperature.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: In the American, John Updike, 1979
The speaker admits a self‑sabotaging tendency, preferring to ruin personal success when given a chance.
In simple terms: I ruin my own chances.
Key Takeaway
Beware self‑sabotage.
Themes
self‑sabotage
psychology
confidence
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
cautionary
psychological
When to use this quote
- competitive sports
- career advancement
- personal relationships
- creative projects
Key Concepts
self‑handicapping
risk aversion
inner conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What triggers your self‑sabotaging behavior?
- How could you redirect that energy positively?
A Different Perspective
Self‑sabotage may stem from deeper fear of success or inadequacy.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
