--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mike Tyson always had a big heart, but…" description: "\"Mike Tyson always had a big heart, but one of his problems is that he's short. And he's got kind of a personal attitude. But that don't make him a grea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/larry-holmes-7529_attitude_mike-tyson-always-had-a-big-heart-but-on_2137002.jpg" --- # Mike Tyson always had a big heart, but one of his problems… ![“Mike Tyson always had a big heart, but one of his problems is that he's short. And he's got kind of a personal attitude. But that don't make him a great fighter.” quote by Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/larry-holmes-7529_attitude_mike-tyson-always-had-a-big-heart-but-on_2137002.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/larry-holmes-7529_attitude_mike-tyson-always-had-a-big-heart-but-on_2137002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/larry-holmes-7529_attitude_mike-tyson-always-had-a-big-heart-but-on_2137002.jpg) > “Mike Tyson always had a big heart, but one of his problems is that he's short. And he's got kind of a personal attitude. But that don't make him a great fighter.” [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical stature and personal attitude are insufficient without skill and discipline to achieve greatness. **In simple terms:** Size and attitude alone don’t make a champion. Key Takeaway Focus on skill development. Themes sports determination humility Mood motivational realistic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - boxing - career advancement - team sports Key Concepts psychology training self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - What skills can you improve regardless of physical traits? - How does humility influence success? A Different Perspective Physical limitations can affect performance despite mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Big heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-heart/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think Mike Tyson's a bad guy. I think the people, the media, makes him out to be a bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-don-t-think-mike-tyson-s-a-bad-guy-i-think-the-people-the-media/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Mike Tyson would have been a good sparring partner for me and Muhammad Ali because Tyson was a fast fighter and he could punch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/mike-tyson-would-have-been-a-good-sparring-partner-for-me-and/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Mike Tyson does a lot of things that shows he wants to win. He might hit you after the bell, he might hit you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/mike-tyson-does-a-lot-of-things-that-shows-he-wants-to-win-he-might/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Earnie hit me harder than any other fighter, including Mike Tyson. He hit me and I was face down on the canvas hearing saxophonist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/earnie-hit-me-harder-than-any-other-fighter-including-mike-tyson-he/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Mike Tyson is a sharp puncher. Earnie Shavers was a PUNISHING puncher. There was a difference between the two. Because when Shavers hit you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/mike-tyson-is-a-sharp-puncher-earnie-shavers-was-a-punishing-puncher/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Even Jon Jones and Mike Tyson used to get a lot of drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merab-dvalishvili/even-jon-jones-and-mike-tyson-used-to-get-a-lot-of-drama/) [Merab Dvalishvili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merab-dvalishvili/) > [I can't change myself. I'm Mike Tyson. I'm a regular kid from the getto striving to do something positive with myself. I happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-can-t-change-myself-i-m-mike-tyson-i-m-a-regular-kid-from-the-getto/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [When I'm on stage, I'm not me playing me. I'm somebody else doing me. I could never go on stage and be like, "Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/when-i-m-on-stage-i-m-not-me-playing-me-i-m-somebody-else-doing-me-i/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I haven't seen someone so overmatched since Mike Tyson tried to recite the alphabet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/i-haven-t-seen-someone-so-overmatched-since-mike-tyson-tried-to/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Mike Tyson was one of the most terrific athletes I've ever met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/mike-tyson-was-one-of-the-most-terrific-athletes-i-ve-ever-met/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [My dad calls me 'Mac' a lot, from 'Mike Tyson's Punch Out' - Little Mac is the main character. I was obsessed. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/my-dad-calls-me-mac-a-lot-from-mike-tyson-s-punch-out-little-mac-is/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [Mike Tyson has been given every penny he has coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/mike-tyson-has-been-given-every-penny-he-has-coming/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [I'm just one woman away, my mother, from being the same as Mike Tyson. I would've ended up like him if my mama had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-m-just-one-woman-away-my-mother-from-being-the-same-as-mike-tyson-i/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [If I was fighting myself, I always say that I would kill Mike Tyson but then again I don't know how hard a punch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/if-i-was-fighting-myself-i-always-say-that-i-would-kill-mike-tyson/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Mike Tyson is the most complex person I've ever met in my life. I've known Mike since 1986. We're both from Brooklyn. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/mike-tyson-is-the-most-complex-person-i-ve-ever-met-in-my-life-i-ve/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) ## More by Larry Holmes > [I don't think Joe Louis could take the punches today fighting in this era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-don-t-think-joe-louis-could-take-the-punches-today-fighting-in-this/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I'm happy with my career but I could have been happier if I could have been treated like a champion should have been treated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-m-happy-with-my-career-but-i-could-have-been-happier-if-i-could/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I'm tired. I am old and I have never quit pursuing my goals. I am heavily involved in real estate right now, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-m-tired-i-am-old-and-i-have-never-quit-pursuing-my-goals-i-am/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Now I'm free of him and I'm light as a feather. There's no weight holding me down; I'm ready to spread my wings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/now-i-m-free-of-him-and-i-m-light-as-a-feather-there-s-no-weight/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [ I cursed \[Larry Merchant\] out once, and I told him that he was a phony. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-cursed-larry-merchant-out-once-and-i-told-him-that-he-was-a-phony/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [ Everyone still wants to see \[Floyd\] Mayweather and \[Manny\] Pacquaio fight. When the talks start though, it always seem like it is all about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/everyone-still-wants-to-see-floyd-mayweather-and-manny-pacquaio-fight/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I'm not a guy who counts cards. I'm a guy that plays with feeling. Because I feel that if something is going to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-m-not-a-guy-who-counts-cards-i-m-a-guy-that-plays-with-feeling/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I think Ali was a fan of mine, even though he never said it. A lot of fighters thought I was pretty good. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-think-ali-was-a-fan-of-mine-even-though-he-never-said-it-a-lot-of/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I don't think boxing needs to be regulated. I think boxing needs to have a complaint board. And I think the complaint board should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-don-t-think-boxing-needs-to-be-regulated-i-think-boxing-needs-to/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [This is the lying thieving mother who cut me $500,000.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/this-is-the-lying-thieving-mother-who-cut-me-500-000/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I think gambling can be a good thing if you don't take it too seriously. Take it and have fun with it, and don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-think-gambling-can-be-a-good-thing-if-you-don-t-take-it-too/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [ \[My\] worst habit: Drinking too much Budweiser when I get angry. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/my-worst-habit-drinking-too-much-budweiser-when-i-get-angry/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Mike Tyson is a sharp puncher. Earnie Shavers was a PUNISHING puncher. There was a difference between the two. Because when Shavers hit you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/mike-tyson-is-a-sharp-puncher-earnie-shavers-was-a-punishing-puncher/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Earnie hit me harder than any other fighter, including Mike Tyson. He hit me and I was face down on the canvas hearing saxophonist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/earnie-hit-me-harder-than-any-other-fighter-including-mike-tyson-he/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I didn't fight this fight for the blacks, the whites or the Spanish, I fought th fight for the people. We're all God's children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-didn-t-fight-this-fight-for-the-blacks-the-whites-or-the-spanish-i/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) [Explore all 90 Larry Holmes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mike Tyson always had a big heart, but one of his problems is that he's short. And he's got kind of a personal attitude. 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