--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I respect most boxers because they're…" description: "\"I respect most boxers because they're violent people who learned to discipline themselves ... a good boxer is an artist ... Boxing is existential - som..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/norman-mailer-839_art_i-respect-most-boxers-because-they-re-vi_2127838.png" --- # I respect most boxers because they're violent people who… ![“I respect most boxers because they're violent people who learned to discipline themselves ... a good boxer is an artist ... Boxing is existential - some fights are better than others.” quote by Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/norman-mailer-839_art_i-respect-most-boxers-because-they-re-vi_2127838.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/norman-mailer-839_art_i-respect-most-boxers-because-they-re-vi_2127838.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/norman-mailer-839_art_i-respect-most-boxers-because-they-re-vi_2127838.png) > “I respect most boxers because they're violent people who learned to discipline themselves ... a good boxer is an artist ... Boxing is existential - some fights are better than others.” [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Boxing illustrates how raw aggression can be transformed into disciplined, artistic expression, reflecting life's existential battles. **In simple terms:** Violence can become art through discipline. Key Takeaway Channel aggression into disciplined creativity. Themes discipline art violence existentialism Mood reflective intense Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - sports training - personal growth - conflict resolution - artistic performance Key Concepts self‑control creative expression identity Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn personal anger into creative output? - What does “existential boxing” mean to you? A Different Perspective Discipline may not fully erase underlying aggression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxer/) [Boxers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxers/) [Boxers Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxers-violent-4372305/) [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Existential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existential/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Good Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-boxer-876755/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Boxers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-boxers-4372304/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [The punishment – to the body, the brain, the spirit – a man must endure to become even a moderately good boxer is inconceivable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-punishment-to-the-body-the-brain-the-spirit-a-man-must-endure-to/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [A good boxer, in striking the round blow, instead of loosening body and arm, gathers himself into a heap of muscularity and begins his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyle-o-reilly/a-good-boxer-in-striking-the-round-blow-instead-of-loosening-body-and/) [John Boyle O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyle-o-reilly/) > [A fight with Tony Bellew would be a momentous occasion. He is a good boxer and a good person, and I also have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleksandr-usyk/a-fight-with-tony-bellew-would-be-a-momentous-occasion-he-is-a-good/) [Oleksandr Usyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleksandr-usyk/) > [Khan was one of the biggest fights of my career and also one of the toughest in my life. He's a very good boxer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-maidana/khan-was-one-of-the-biggest-fights-of-my-career-and-also-one-of-the/) [Marcos Maidana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-maidana/) > [Broner is a very good puncher. He's a very good boxer, very good puncher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-maidana/broner-is-a-very-good-puncher-he-s-a-very-good-boxer-very-good-puncher/) [Marcos Maidana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-maidana/) > [Mike Tyson is a good boxer, but he is not the best fighter. I am the best fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royce-gracie/mike-tyson-is-a-good-boxer-but-he-is-not-the-best-fighter-i-am-the/) [Royce Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royce-gracie/) > [I'm a good fighter, a good boxer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-fielding/i-m-a-good-fighter-a-good-boxer/) [Rocky Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-fielding/) > [People want to see blood. They don't care anymore if you can box for 12 rounds. They don't appreciate the art of the good boxer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-briggs/people-want-to-see-blood-they-don-t-care-anymore-if-you-can-box-for/) [Shannon Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-briggs/) > [Boxing and chess are similar. It’s about the choice of means. Sometimes I need a pawn, a bishop or a knight to defeat my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennox-lewis/boxing-and-chess-are-similar-it-s-about-the-choice-of-means-sometimes/) [Lennox Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennox-lewis/) > [Joe Louis was a good Heavyweight, good boxer but he was kind of in the same boat as Marciano, weighing about 190 to 200 lbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/joe-louis-was-a-good-heavyweight-good-boxer-but-he-was-kind-of-in-the/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [The best fighter is not a Boxer, Karate or Judo man. The best fighter is someone who can adapt on any style. He kicks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-best-fighter-is-not-a-boxer-karate-or-judo-man-the-best-fighter/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I have a thing for men's boxer briefs and a tank top. If I'm wearing them, I'm a happy gal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-vassey/i-have-a-thing-for-men-s-boxer-briefs-and-a-tank-top-if-i-m-wearing/) [Liz Vassey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-vassey/) > [Allah is the Greatest. I'm just the greatest boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/allah-is-the-greatest-i-m-just-the-greatest-boxer/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I'm a world class Beat Boxer; you should hear the noises I can make with my mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-m-a-world-class-beat-boxer-you-should-hear-the-noises-i-can-make/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [A boxer never sees the big one that hits him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/a-boxer-never-sees-the-big-one-that-hits-him/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) ## More by Norman Mailer > [Conservatives are people who look at a tree and feel instinctively that it is more beautiful than anything they can name. But when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/conservatives-are-people-who-look-at-a-tree-and-feel-instinctively/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [There's a subterranean impetus towards pornography so powerful that half the business world is juiced by the sort of half sex that one finds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/there-s-a-subterranean-impetus-towards-pornography-so-powerful-that/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [So the blind will lead the blind, and the deaf shout warnings to one another until their voices are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/so-the-blind-will-lead-the-blind-and-the-deaf-shout-warnings-to-one/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Writing for a newspaper is like running a revolutionary war. You go to battle not when you are ready, but when action offers itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/writing-for-a-newspaper-is-like-running-a-revolutionary-war-you-go-to/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I would introduce myself if it were not useless. The name I had last night will not be the same as the name I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-would-introduce-myself-if-it-were-not-useless-the-name-i-had-last/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“City Point is so beautiful, she says. In the night they cannot see the garbage that litters the beach, the seaweed and driftwood, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/city-point-is-so-beautiful-she-says-in-the-night-they-cannot-see-the/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“I find it’s more fun to write about something that you don’t know completely and that you will discover on route. A dear friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-find-it-s-more-fun-to-write-about-something-that-you-don-t-know/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Part of the oncoming demise (of New York during its terrible fiscal crisis) is that none of us can simply believe it. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/part-of-the-oncoming-demise-of-new-york-during-its-terrible-fiscal/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I have always had this very strong, call it a feeling, call it a prejudice, call it a conviction ... that the mysteries are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-have-always-had-this-very-strong-call-it-a-feeling-call-it-a/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I do believe that America's deepest political sickness is that it is a self-righteous nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-do-believe-that-america-s-deepest-political-sickness-is-that-it-is/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [America is a hurricane, and the only people who do not hear the sound are those fortunate if incredibly stupid and smug White Protestants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/america-is-a-hurricane-and-the-only-people-who-do-not-hear-the-sound/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Armstrong, sitting in the commander's seat, spacesuit on, helmet on, plugged into electrical and environmental umbilical's, is a man who is not only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/armstrong-sitting-in-the-commander-s-seat-spacesuit-on-helmet-on/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I was thinking that surgeons had to be the happiest people on earth. 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Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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