--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had good years when I took steroids…" description: "\"I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it, and for that, I'm truly ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/mark-mcgwire-13124_bad_i-had-good-years-when-i-took-steroids-an_1184465.jpg" --- # I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years… ![“I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it, and for that, I'm truly sorry.” quote by Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/mark-mcgwire-13124_bad_i-had-good-years-when-i-took-steroids-an_1184465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/mark-mcgwire-13124_bad_i-had-good-years-when-i-took-steroids-an_1184465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/mark-mcgwire-13124_bad_i-had-good-years-when-i-took-steroids-an_1184465.jpg) > “I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it, and for that, I'm truly sorry.” [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Steroid use brought short‑term gains but long‑term regret and moral cost. **In simple terms:** Performance boost came with lasting remorse. Key Takeaway Prioritize integrity over quick wins. Themes ethics health career regret Mood reflective somber Type confessional apologetic When to use this quote - professional sports - personal health decisions - public admissions Key Concepts risk assessment personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives could have been pursued? - How does remorse shape future choices? A Different Perspective Denial often masks deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-years/) ## Related quotes > [My message is that steroids is bad. Don't do them. It's a bad message.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/my-message-is-that-steroids-is-bad-don-t-do-them-it-s-a-bad-message/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [Look, even bad years are pretty good years I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/look-even-bad-years-are-pretty-good-years-i-think/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [We’re going to have good years again. Our bad years are not that bad. Take a school like Missouri. Our bad years are better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deloss-dodds/we-re-going-to-have-good-years-again-our-bad-years-are-not-that-bad/) DeLoss Dodds > [General Motors has no bad years, only good years and better years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlow-curtice/general-motors-has-no-bad-years-only-good-years-and-better-years/) Harlow Curtice > [You have good games, you have bad games. You have good years, you have bad years. I have always been kind of philosophical about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/you-have-good-games-you-have-bad-games-you-have-good-years-you-have/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I liked working with Republicans. We had five pretty good years after we had that bad year in '95 that culminated in two government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-liked-working-with-republicans-we-had-five-pretty-good-years-after/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The only reason I took steroids was for my health purposes. I did not take steroids to get any gain for any strength purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/the-only-reason-i-took-steroids-was-for-my-health-purposes-i-did-not/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I'm against steroids. Steroids are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanderlei-silva/i-m-against-steroids-steroids-are-bad/) [Wanderlei Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanderlei-silva/) > [It was a tough school. The kids on the debating team took steroids!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/it-was-a-tough-school-the-kids-on-the-debating-team-took-steroids/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [I would never do it because if I took steroids, I would hit 60 or 70 home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-braun/i-would-never-do-it-because-if-i-took-steroids-i-would-hit-60-or-70/) [Ryan Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-braun/) > [ I can definitely say the same thing \[discussing Steffi Graf's claim that she had played against at least one top player who used steroids\].… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/i-can-definitely-say-the-same-thing-discussing-steffi-graf-s-claim/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [I don't know what else I can say. I have never taken steroids. For people who think I took steroids intentionally, I'm never going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-palmeiro/i-don-t-know-what-else-i-can-say-i-have-never-taken-steroids-for/) [Rafael Palmeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-palmeiro/) > [But I'm still not 100% convinced that Roger Clemens took steroids. I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-leiter/but-i-m-still-not-100-convinced-that-roger-clemens-took-steroids-i-m/) [Al Leiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-leiter/) > [I do feel I was overshadowed by some of those guys (who took steroids) . . . I had a diminished-skills clause written in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-thomas/i-do-feel-i-was-overshadowed-by-some-of-those-guys-who-took-steroids/) [Frank Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-thomas/) > [Im truly sorry for my words and actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-truly-sorry-for-my-words-and-actions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mark McGwire > [I've been thinking about the record since I reached the fifty plateau. But you think about it and then you let it go because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-ve-been-thinking-about-the-record-since-i-reached-the-fifty-plateau/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [The steroids I did were on a very, very low dosage. I didn't want to take a lot of that. I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/the-steroids-i-did-were-on-a-very-very-low-dosage-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I have had to tell my son, my parents, my friends that I used steroids. It's been very hard. It's been very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-have-had-to-tell-my-son-my-parents-my-friends-that-i-used-steroids/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [So be it. I’m happy to bring the country together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/so-be-it-i-m-happy-to-bring-the-country-together/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I don't know if I want to break my own record. I think I would rather leave it as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-don-t-know-if-i-want-to-break-my-own-record-i-think-i-would-rather/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [The thing I sort of get tired of hearing is if I don't hit home runs or don't get hits, that the pressure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/the-thing-i-sort-of-get-tired-of-hearing-is-if-i-don-t-hit-home-runs/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I study pitchers. I visualize pitches. That gives me a better chance every time I step into the box. That doesn't mean I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-study-pitchers-i-visualize-pitches-that-gives-me-a-better-chance/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [Performance-enhancing drugs are an illusion. I wish I had never gotten involved with steroids. It was wrong. It was stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/performance-enhancing-drugs-are-an-illusion-i-wish-i-had-never-gotten/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [When people put my name next to (Babe) Ruth's name it still blows me away. I'm still in awe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/when-people-put-my-name-next-to-babe-ruth-s-name-it-still-blows-me/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I think it puts baseball back on the map as a sport. It's America's pastime and just look at everyone coming out to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-think-it-puts-baseball-back-on-the-map-as-a-sport-it-s-america-s/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I know it's tough. Everybody in baseball knows its tough. I'm just going to give it my best shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-know-it-s-tough-everybody-in-baseball-knows-its-tough-i-m-just/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I touched Roger's bat and held it to my heart. My bat will lie next to his. I'm damn proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-touched-roger-s-bat-and-held-it-to-my-heart-my-bat-will-lie-next-to/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989 -1990 off season, and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-remember-trying-steroids-very-briefly-in-the-1989-1990-off-season/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [The mind is a powerful thing and most people don't use it properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/the-mind-is-a-powerful-thing-and-most-people-don-t-use-it-properly/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [Sammy Sosa's a September player, so you have to watch out for him. It's crunch time, time to make history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/sammy-sosa-s-a-september-player-so-you-have-to-watch-out-for-him-it-s/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) [Explore all 51 Mark McGwire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years when I took steroids. 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