--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The secret is that everything is always…" description: "\"“The secret is that everything is always on the line. The more present we are at practice, the more present we will be in competition, in the boardroom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/josh-waitzkin-24153_hope_the-secret-is-that-everything-is-always_45493.jpg" --- # The secret is that everything is always on the line. The… ![“The secret is that everything is always on the line. The more present we are at practice, the more present we will be in competition, in the boardroom, at the exam, the operating table, the big stage. If we have any hope of attaining excellence, let alone of showing what we’ve got under pressure…” quote by Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/josh-waitzkin-24153_hope_the-secret-is-that-everything-is-always_45493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/josh-waitzkin-24153_hope_the-secret-is-that-everything-is-always_45493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/josh-waitzkin-24153_hope_the-secret-is-that-everything-is-always_45493.jpg) > ““The secret is that everything is always on the line. The more present we are at practice, the more present we will be in competition, in the boardroom, at the exam, the operating table, the big stage. If we have any hope of attaining excellence, let alone of showing what we’ve got under pressure, we have to be prepared by a lifestyle of reinforcement. Presence must be like breathing.”” [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excellence requires constant, mindful practice so that performance under pressure becomes automatic, like breathing. **In simple terms:** Practice builds effortless presence. Key Takeaway Consistent rehearsal creates calm under stress. Themes mindfulness performance excellence pressure habit formation Mood determined focused confident Type motivational instructional When to use this quote - sports competition - boardroom negotiations - medical surgery - public speaking - academic exams Key Concepts presence reinforcement competition preparation Practical Applications - training programs - coaching curricula Questions to Reflect On - How can daily routines be designed to embed presence? - What habits best translate practice into performance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/) ## Related quotes > [One thing I was taught growing up is it's only pressure when you're not prepared. And you're just not working hard. Those are two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-brunson/one-thing-i-was-taught-growing-up-is-it-s-only-pressure-when-you-re/) [Jalen Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-brunson/) > [Practice being in the present. Do what you're doing 100%.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/practice-being-in-the-present-do-what-you-re-doing-100/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [Through daily yoga practice we can become present to our own fundamental goodness and the goodness of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-farhi/through-daily-yoga-practice-we-can-become-present-to-our-own/) [Donna Farhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-farhi/) > [It's not about the number of hours you practice, it's about the number of hours your mind is present during the practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/it-s-not-about-the-number-of-hours-you-practice-it-s-about-the-number/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [“We can’t change what happened to us in our past, but we can change the future through our present practice. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-scrone/we-can-t-change-what-happened-to-us-in-our-past-but-we-can-change-the/) Brian Scrone > [The present practice is to impress one's own discoveries, opinions and principles on the child by constantly directing his actions. The last thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/the-present-practice-is-to-impress-one-s-own-discoveries-opinions-and/) [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) > [“In your darkest times, never be afraid. The Lord's presence is always with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/in-your-darkest-times-never-be-afraid-the-lord-s-presence-is-always/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I was thinking how most people don't make you feel much of anything at all. 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I understood it well. After”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-domet/only-through-absence-can-we-understand-presence-he-told-me-and-i/) [Sarah Domet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-domet/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) ## More by Josh Waitzkin > [“I knew how to block out my issues in a sprint, but in marathons I ran out of gas. Consistency became a critical problem.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/i-knew-how-to-block-out-my-issues-in-a-sprint-but-in-marathons-i-ran/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“While a fixation on results is certainly unhealthy, short-term goals can be useful developmental tools if they are balanced within a nurturing long-term philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/while-a-fixation-on-results-is-certainly-unhealthy-short-term-goals/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“successful people shoot for the stars, put their hearts on the line in every battle, and ultimately discover that the lessons learned from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/successful-people-shoot-for-the-stars-put-their-hearts-on-the-line-in/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“Just as the yin-yang symbol possesses a kernel of light in the dark, and of dark in the light, creative leaps are grounded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/just-as-the-yin-yang-symbol-possesses-a-kernel-of-light-in-the-dark/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“some of the brightest kids prove to be the most vulnerable to becoming helpless, because they feel the need to live up to and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/some-of-the-brightest-kids-prove-to-be-the-most-vulnerable-to/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“A key component of high-level learning is cultivating a resilient awareness that is the older, conscious embodiment of a child’s playful obliviousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/a-key-component-of-high-level-learning-is-cultivating-a-resilient/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“If I want to be the best, I have to take risks others would avoid, always optimizing the learning potential of the moment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/if-i-want-to-be-the-best-i-have-to-take-risks-others-would-avoid/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“there are clear distinctions between what it takes to be decent, what it takes to be good, what it takes to be great, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/there-are-clear-distinctions-between-what-it-takes-to-be-decent-what/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“One of the most critical strengths of a superior competitor in any discipline—whether we are speaking about sports, business negotiations, or even presidential debates—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/one-of-the-most-critical-strengths-of-a-superior-competitor-in-any/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [One idea I taught was the importance of regaining presence and clarity of mind after making a serious error](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/one-idea-i-taught-was-the-importance-of-regaining-presence-and/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“In performance training, first we learn to flow with whatever comes. Then we learn to use whatever comes to our advantage. Finally, we learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/in-performance-training-first-we-learn-to-flow-with-whatever-comes/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“So if you think that when you are better, it means that you can smash ahead and mate the guy, you are wrong, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/so-if-you-think-that-when-you-are-better-it-means-that-you-can-smash/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“Of course there were plateaus, periods when my results leveled off while I internalized the information necessary for my next growth spurt, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/of-course-there-were-plateaus-periods-when-my-results-leveled-off/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“My instinct is always to seek out challenges as opposed to avoiding them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/my-instinct-is-always-to-seek-out-challenges-as-opposed-to-avoiding/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [“He landed on cheap shot, but I knocked him out of the tournament.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/he-landed-on-cheap-shot-but-i-knocked-him-out-of-the-tournament/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) [Explore all 25 Josh Waitzkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) ## More Hope quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stop trying to give me hope ... I have no room left for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-f/stop-trying-to-give-me-hope-i-have-no-room-left-for-it/) [Jenn F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-f/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I am at a point in my life where everything I have worked for starts to look like a burden, a weight on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-abou-samra/i-am-at-a-point-in-my-life-where-everything-i-have-worked-for-starts/) Simone Abou Samra > [Im really happy that I met you I hope you know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/im-really-happy-that-i-met-you-i-hope-you-know-that/) Im Nothing > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 24,868 Hope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The secret is that everything is always on the line. 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