---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think my nature of competitiveness is…"
description: "\"I think my nature of competitiveness is such that it's not meant to be used in sport. It's meant to be used in survival.\" — Laird Hamilton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/laird-hamilton-3258_competitiveness_i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is_387992.jpg"
---

#  I think my nature of competitiveness is such that it's not…

![“I think my nature of competitiveness is such that it's not meant to be used in sport. It's meant to be used in survival.” quote by Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/laird-hamilton-3258_competitiveness_i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is_387992.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/laird-hamilton-3258_competitiveness_i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is_387992.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/laird-hamilton-3258_competitiveness_i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is_387992.jpg)

> “I think my nature of competitiveness is such that it's not meant to be used in sport. It's meant to be used in survival.”

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Competitiveness is a survival instinct, not merely a sport trait.

**In simple terms:** Competitive drive fuels personal survival, not just games.

Key Takeaway

Channel competitive energy into life‑sustaining goals.

Themes

survival competition mindset

Mood

intense focused

Type

psychological strategic

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- personal challenges
- risk management

Key Concepts

evolutionary psychology motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your competitive nature serve your survival?
- When might it become detrimental?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on competition can cause stress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Competitiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitiveness/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/)

## Related quotes

> [It's a violent sport. It's meant to be that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/it-s-a-violent-sport-it-s-meant-to-be-that-way/)

[Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/)

> [I try to have a very well-rounded group of friends that did a lot of different things and weren't just performers. Because I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-try-to-have-a-very-well-rounded-group-of-friends-that-did-a-lot-of/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [Take young researchers, put them together in virtual seclusion, give them an unprecedented degree of freedom and turn up the pressure by fostering competitiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/take-young-researchers-put-them-together-in-virtual-seclusion-give/)

[James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/)

> [In Poland we still believe - and this certainly applies to my government - that greater competitiveness, and greater growth and savings are possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-tusk/in-poland-we-still-believe-and-this-certainly-applies-to-my/)

[Donald Tusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-tusk/)

> [When you work at 'The Daily Show,' you have to give 100 percent, or you're gone. The competitiveness and the minds that work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-corddry/when-you-work-at-the-daily-show-you-have-to-give-100-percent-or-you/)

[Nate Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-corddry/)

> [the crucial disadvantage of aggression, competitiveness and skepticism as national characteristics is that these qualities cannot be turned off at five o'clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/the-crucial-disadvantage-of-aggression-competitiveness-and-skepticism/)

[Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/)

> [Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/stop-costly-new-regulations-that-would-increase-unemployment-raise/)

[Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/)

> [Today's competitiveness, so much imposed from without, is exhausting, not exhilarating; is unending-a part of one's social life, one's solitude, one's sleep, one's sleeplessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/today-s-competitiveness-so-much-imposed-from-without-is-exhausting/)

[Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/)

> [You don't want to put competitiveness and emotion away, so you learn to play with it. You learn to use it for your team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-allen/you-don-t-want-to-put-competitiveness-and-emotion-away-so-you-learn/)

[Grayson Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-allen/)

> [It is absolutely critical for competitiveness in the United States for us to really raise the bar in education, especially in math, in science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/safra-a-catz/it-is-absolutely-critical-for-competitiveness-in-the-united-states/)

[Safra A. Catz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/safra-a-catz/)

> [A state-based regulatory system is quite burdensome. It allows price controls to create market distortions. It can hinder development of national products and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/a-state-based-regulatory-system-is-quite-burdensome-it-allows-price/)

[Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/)

> [The challenge always is can we sustain a high level of competitiveness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/the-challenge-always-is-can-we-sustain-a-high-level-of-competitiveness/)

[Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/)

> [I think competitiveness is taken in a different way by different people. I'm not a yeller and a screamer, a jumper and a pusher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-duncan/i-think-competitiveness-is-taken-in-a-different-way-by-different/)

[Tim Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-duncan/)

> [If you put on your business hat, you can't maintain competitiveness by staying at a competitive disadvantage. I mean, you just can't. The odds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/if-you-put-on-your-business-hat-you-can-t-maintain-competitiveness-by/)

[Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/)

> [There are many examples of companies and countries that have improved their competitiveness and efficiency by adopting open source strategies. The creation of skills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shuttleworth/there-are-many-examples-of-companies-and-countries-that-have-improved/)

[Mark Shuttleworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shuttleworth/)

## More by Laird Hamilton

> [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [I need a big wave to really excel. The smaller stuff is a bit like...ballet for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/i-need-a-big-wave-to-really-excel-the-smaller-stuff-is-a-bit-like/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [What separates great athletes from mediocre ones isn't only talent and training - it's also how well they can handle discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/what-separates-great-athletes-from-mediocre-ones-isn-t-only-talent/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [People always ask me when they see me working out, "What are you training for?" The answer is I'm training for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-always-ask-me-when-they-see-me-working-out-what-are-you/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [I love espresso... You could give me five shots of espresso, a quarter stick of butter, a quarter stick of coconut oil and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/i-love-espresso-you-could-give-me-five-shots-of-espresso-a-quarter/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [Anyone who knows what he's doing takes a serious attitude toward a risky situation and doesn't take it lightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/anyone-who-knows-what-he-s-doing-takes-a-serious-attitude-toward-a/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [You want to have diversity in your diet. Too much red meat can leave me feeling sluggish, and sometimes my body will clue me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/you-want-to-have-diversity-in-your-diet-too-much-red-meat-can-leave/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [When you weight train, take your ego out of the equation. If you pick up a giant rack and start squatting, you can throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/when-you-weight-train-take-your-ego-out-of-the-equation-if-you-pick/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [The biggest mistake anyone can make is being too strict. That stress far outweighs the value of what you're doing. There's a disciplined way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-biggest-mistake-anyone-can-make-is-being-too-strict-that-stress/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [There needs to be a reason to go, so you go deeper into whatever place you're visiting to find those unforgettable experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/there-needs-to-be-a-reason-to-go-so-you-go-deeper-into-whatever-place/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [While swimming is a great workout, it's also one of the best activities for recovery. It improves the flexibility in your arms and shoulders,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/while-swimming-is-a-great-workout-it-s-also-one-of-the-best/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [Most people don't stretch, because, in a way, it's one of the activities that hurts us the most. It's instantly uncomfortable, which isn't true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/most-people-don-t-stretch-because-in-a-way-it-s-one-of-the-activities/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [To me, there's nothing worse than waking up and realizing that the sun's already been up for awhile. I feel like I've missed out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/to-me-there-s-nothing-worse-than-waking-up-and-realizing-that-the-sun/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [Start to think about food as a fuel source and you'll see real results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/start-to-think-about-food-as-a-fuel-source-and-you-ll-see-real-results/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

[Explore all 135 Laird Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

## More Competitiveness quotes

> [There are many examples of companies and countries that have improved their competitiveness and efficiency by adopting open source strategies. The creation of skills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shuttleworth/there-are-many-examples-of-companies-and-countries-that-have-improved/)

[Mark Shuttleworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shuttleworth/)

> [If you put on your business hat, you can't maintain competitiveness by staying at a competitive disadvantage. I mean, you just can't. The odds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/if-you-put-on-your-business-hat-you-can-t-maintain-competitiveness-by/)

[Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/)

> [I think competitiveness is taken in a different way by different people. I'm not a yeller and a screamer, a jumper and a pusher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-duncan/i-think-competitiveness-is-taken-in-a-different-way-by-different/)

[Tim Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-duncan/)

> [The challenge always is can we sustain a high level of competitiveness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/the-challenge-always-is-can-we-sustain-a-high-level-of-competitiveness/)

[Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/)

> [A state-based regulatory system is quite burdensome. It allows price controls to create market distortions. It can hinder development of national products and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/a-state-based-regulatory-system-is-quite-burdensome-it-allows-price/)

[Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/)

> [It is absolutely critical for competitiveness in the United States for us to really raise the bar in education, especially in math, in science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/safra-a-catz/it-is-absolutely-critical-for-competitiveness-in-the-united-states/)

[Safra A. Catz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/safra-a-catz/)

> [You don't want to put competitiveness and emotion away, so you learn to play with it. You learn to use it for your team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-allen/you-don-t-want-to-put-competitiveness-and-emotion-away-so-you-learn/)

[Grayson Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-allen/)

> [Today's competitiveness, so much imposed from without, is exhausting, not exhilarating; is unending-a part of one's social life, one's solitude, one's sleep, one's sleeplessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/today-s-competitiveness-so-much-imposed-from-without-is-exhausting/)

[Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/)

> [Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/stop-costly-new-regulations-that-would-increase-unemployment-raise/)

[Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/)

> [the crucial disadvantage of aggression, competitiveness and skepticism as national characteristics is that these qualities cannot be turned off at five o'clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/the-crucial-disadvantage-of-aggression-competitiveness-and-skepticism/)

[Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/)

> [When you work at 'The Daily Show,' you have to give 100 percent, or you're gone. The competitiveness and the minds that work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-corddry/when-you-work-at-the-daily-show-you-have-to-give-100-percent-or-you/)

[Nate Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-corddry/)

> [In Poland we still believe - and this certainly applies to my government - that greater competitiveness, and greater growth and savings are possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-tusk/in-poland-we-still-believe-and-this-certainly-applies-to-my/)

[Donald Tusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-tusk/)

> [Take young researchers, put them together in virtual seclusion, give them an unprecedented degree of freedom and turn up the pressure by fostering competitiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/take-young-researchers-put-them-together-in-virtual-seclusion-give/)

[James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/)

> [I try to have a very well-rounded group of friends that did a lot of different things and weren't just performers. Because I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-try-to-have-a-very-well-rounded-group-of-friends-that-did-a-lot-of/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [So Europe needs to be competitive and we also need to be competitive if we wish to remain an interesting economic partner for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/so-europe-needs-to-be-competitive-and-we-also-need-to-be-competitive/)

[Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/)

[Browse all 217 Competitiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitiveness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think my nature of competitiveness is such that it's not meant to be used in sport. It's meant to be used in survival.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Laird Hamilton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is-such-that-it-s-not-meant-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Competitiveness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is-such-that-it-s-not-meant-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/laird-hamilton-3258_competitiveness_i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is_387992.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/laird-hamilton-3258_competitiveness_i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is_387992.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/laird-hamilton-3258_competitiveness_i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is_387992.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think my nature of competitiveness is such that it's not meant to be used in sport. It's meant to be used…” — Laird Hamilton",
                "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": "Laird Hamilton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think my nature of competitiveness...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is-such-that-it-s-not-meant-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/i-think-my-nature-of-competitiveness-is-such-that-it-s-not-meant-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
