--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am no longer 20 or 21 years old, so I…" description: "\"I am no longer 20 or 21 years old, so I cannot afford to sit around waiting for my chance. I am 29 years old, and I want to play, play, and play. I am ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/lukas-podolski-9884_chance_i-am-no-longer-20-or-21-years-old-so-i-c_1568712.png" --- # I am no longer 20 or 21 years old, so I cannot afford to… ![“I am no longer 20 or 21 years old, so I cannot afford to sit around waiting for my chance. I am 29 years old, and I want to play, play, and play. I am not crazy; I don't want to sit in the stands.” quote by Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/lukas-podolski-9884_chance_i-am-no-longer-20-or-21-years-old-so-i-c_1568712.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/lukas-podolski-9884_chance_i-am-no-longer-20-or-21-years-old-so-i-c_1568712.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/lukas-podolski-9884_chance_i-am-no-longer-20-or-21-years-old-so-i-c_1568712.png) > “I am no longer 20 or 21 years old, so I cannot afford to sit around waiting for my chance. I am 29 years old, and I want to play, play, and play. I am not crazy; I don't want to sit in the stands.” [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Age brings urgency; waiting for opportunity is no longer viable, so one must actively seek play and involvement. **In simple terms:** Act now, don’t wait for chance. Key Takeaway Take initiative, create opportunities. Themes age urgency activity Mood motivational pragmatic Type inspirational energetic When to use this quote - team selection - personal projects - skill practice Key Concepts sports psychology career development motivation Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take today? - How does age affect your motivation? A Different Perspective Waiting can lead to missed chances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I play a lot of cricket. I just want to play, play, and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-sreesanth/i-play-a-lot-of-cricket-i-just-want-to-play-play-and-play/) [S. Sreesanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-sreesanth/) > [In the end, I want to play, play well, score and win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timo-werner/in-the-end-i-want-to-play-play-well-score-and-win/) [Timo Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timo-werner/) > [Much of the time, as an actor, you sit around waiting. Most of your life and career, you're waiting for your agent or your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/much-of-the-time-as-an-actor-you-sit-around-waiting-most-of-your-life/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [I sit around too much, waiting for other people to do stuff and angsting about stuff they've done, without doing anything myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/i-sit-around-too-much-waiting-for-other-people-to-do-stuff-and/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [I cant just sit here Waiting for you to change Cant you see what you cause me? Nothing but pain¦ I think its time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonor/i-cant-just-sit-here-waiting-for-you-to-change-cant-you-see-what-you/) [Leonor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonor/) > [We sit around waiting for them to come home, hoping every day that they are okay and that they know how much we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cierra-powell/we-sit-around-waiting-for-them-to-come-home-hoping-every-day-that/) [Cierra Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cierra-powell/) > [Put a smile on your face. Don't sit in the waiting room of life. Go do something, happily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/put-a-smile-on-your-face-don-t-sit-in-the-waiting-room-of-life-go-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There are two ways of approaching your time on this planet: one is to sit around waiting for something to happen that will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/there-are-two-ways-of-approaching-your-time-on-this-planet-one-is-to/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [“Why would you turn right on a red light when we can all just sit here behind you waiting to die... #AHOLE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ostrom/why-would-you-turn-right-on-a-red-light-when-we-can-all-just-sit-here/) [Andy Ostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ostrom/) > [I've always made my opportunities, I've never been one to wait for them and sit around waiting for something to happen. I've always sought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-ve-always-made-my-opportunities-i-ve-never-been-one-to-wait-for/) [Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/) > [“So many sit around, waiting for superman, when in fact, Wonder Woman lies within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-canady/so-many-sit-around-waiting-for-superman-when-in-fact-wonder-woman/) Kristina Canady > [“you have to go out and make your future, not sit around waiting for it to find you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-bramley/you-have-to-go-out-and-make-your-future-not-sit-around-waiting-for-it/) [Cathy Bramley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-bramley/) > [I sit waiting for things that I can't refuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-sit-waiting-for-things-that-i-can-t-refuse/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I would not sit waiting for some vague tomorrow, nor for something to happen. One could wait a lifetime, and find nothing at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/i-would-not-sit-waiting-for-some-vague-tomorrow-nor-for-something-to/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“They have the impression that between launches, we pretty much sit around in a waiting room in Houston trying to catch our breath before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/they-have-the-impression-that-between-launches-we-pretty-much-sit/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) ## More by Lukas Podolski > [Football is like recreation for me. I'd sooner be playing five-a-side than going out to eat or shopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/football-is-like-recreation-for-me-i-d-sooner-be-playing-five-a-side/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I am a family person; we are a big family, and I need my friends around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-am-a-family-person-we-are-a-big-family-and-i-need-my-friends-around/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [It was easy for me to play in the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/it-was-easy-for-me-to-play-in-the-premier-league/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [Mr. Wenger could have moved on to another club, I am sure, but instead chose to stay and build something over the long term.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/mr-wenger-could-have-moved-on-to-another-club-i-am-sure-but-instead/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I like the style of football in England and the style of Arsenal, and I'm very happy to play in the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-like-the-style-of-football-in-england-and-the-style-of-arsenal-and/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I have celebrated major successes with Germany on the pitch, but not only that, I have experienced so much off the pitch too, visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-have-celebrated-major-successes-with-germany-on-the-pitch-but-not/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [Football in Japan is highly looked upon, even more than in the rest of Asia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/football-in-japan-is-highly-looked-upon-even-more-than-in-the-rest-of/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [“Was in den Zeitungen stimmt, is' einfach falsch!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/was-in-den-zeitungen-stimmt-is-einfach-falsch/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I love the competition, going out there for 90 minutes, fighting your opponent. If you take this competition away from me, I am not happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-love-the-competition-going-out-there-for-90-minutes-fighting-your/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I want to score in every game, play well, and set up goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-want-to-score-in-every-game-play-well-and-set-up-goals/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [Argentina is not a bad team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/argentina-is-not-a-bad-team/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [It is not a problem to sit on the bench: absolutely not. When you have three games in a week, and you don't play,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/it-is-not-a-problem-to-sit-on-the-bench-absolutely-not-when-you-have/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I had other interesting offers, but for me, it had to be a top club. When you look at Arsenal, with a fantastic manager,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-had-other-interesting-offers-but-for-me-it-had-to-be-a-top-club/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [For me, respect is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/for-me-respect-is-important/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [When you come from Poland, you have nothing. Your mother and father are working. You have only a bed for sleep. You have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/when-you-come-from-poland-you-have-nothing-your-mother-and-father-are/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) [Explore all 69 Lukas Podolski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) Alejandro Taubas > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am no longer 20 or 21 years old, so I cannot afford to sit around waiting for my chance. I am 29 years old, and I want to play, play, and play. 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