--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would never have thought I was capable…" description: "\"I would never have thought I was capable of sitting on the bench as the number two man. And it showed me that you can really achieve everything in life..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/oliver-kahn-22228_achieve_i-would-never-have-thought-i-was-capable_539040.jpg" --- # I would never have thought I was capable of sitting on the… ![“I would never have thought I was capable of sitting on the bench as the number two man. And it showed me that you can really achieve everything in life, even the unthinkable, as long as you're willing to work on yourself a little bit.” quote by Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/oliver-kahn-22228_achieve_i-would-never-have-thought-i-was-capable_539040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/oliver-kahn-22228_achieve_i-would-never-have-thought-i-was-capable_539040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/oliver-kahn-22228_achieve_i-would-never-have-thought-i-was-capable_539040.jpg) > “I would never have thought I was capable of sitting on the bench as the number two man. And it showed me that you can really achieve everything in life, even the unthinkable, as long as you're willing to work on yourself a little bit.” [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑improvement and humility enable unexpected achievements, even when starting from a low position. **In simple terms:** Hard work can lift you from any rank. Key Takeaway Believe in personal growth to reach new heights. Themes humility self‑improvement achievement perseverance confidence Mood motivational hopeful Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career advancement - team sports - academic pursuits - life transitions Key Concepts Personal development goal setting mental toughness Questions to Reflect On - What small habit can you adopt to improve yourself daily? - How does humility affect your pursuit of success? A Different Perspective Progress may be slow and require support from others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieve Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-life/) [Benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Capable Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable-sitting-4511973/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Unthinkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-unthinkable-4511972/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Number Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number-two/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Really Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-achieve-1348687/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Sitting on the bench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting-on-the-bench/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Unthinkable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unthinkable/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Work On Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-on-yourself/) ## Related quotes > [Without a Coca-Cola life is unthinkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/without-a-coca-cola-life-is-unthinkable/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Movement is life; without movement life is unthinkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-feldenkrais/movement-is-life-without-movement-life-is-unthinkable/) [Moshe Feldenkrais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-feldenkrais/) > [To really achieve any level of greatness, you have to be willing to say yes no matter who says no, and to say no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/to-really-achieve-any-level-of-greatness-you-have-to-be-willing-to/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [You need aspiration if you want to really achieve greatness in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-johnson/you-need-aspiration-if-you-want-to-really-achieve-greatness-in-this/) [Jack Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-johnson/) > [You can achieve a goal; you never really achieve your purpose, because your purpose is ongoing. It never stops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/you-can-achieve-a-goal-you-never-really-achieve-your-purpose-because/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [You can't really achieve anything in three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/you-can-t-really-achieve-anything-in-three-years/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I think the most important thing for us to make judgments about is what can we really do? What can we achieve?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-think-the-most-important-thing-for-us-to-make-judgments-about-is/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [The only way we can really achieve balance in our lives is to surround ourselves with incredible people who help us get that balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randi-zuckerberg/the-only-way-we-can-really-achieve-balance-in-our-lives-is-to/) [Randi Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randi-zuckerberg/) > [It's not my goal, definitely. I mean, I don't think it's something I can really achieve. Definitely she's a great champion - she has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kvitova/it-s-not-my-goal-definitely-i-mean-i-don-t-think-it-s-something-i-can/) [Petra Kvitova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kvitova/) > [This is a place where you really are what you achieve in Houston, and that's a tremendous boon to this town. I think you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kinder/this-is-a-place-where-you-really-are-what-you-achieve-in-houston-and/) [Richard Kinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kinder/) > [Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. We need hours of aimless wandering or spates of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/each-of-us-needs-to-withdraw-from-the-cares-which-will-not-withdraw/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Individual grievances and pet peeves have got to go by the wayside. Generally, you don't have to worry about the guys who are playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-alston/individual-grievances-and-pet-peeves-have-got-to-go-by-the-wayside/) [Walter Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-alston/) > [How on earth Traore gets into this team is beyond me. And he's a Champions League winner? Gimme a break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-giles/how-on-earth-traore-gets-into-this-team-is-beyond-me-and-he-s-a/) [Johnny Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-giles/) > [To be sitting on the bench behind somebody who only started to play when he was 30 is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lehmann/to-be-sitting-on-the-bench-behind-somebody-who-only-started-to-play/) [Jens Lehmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lehmann/) > [“In baseball, when you get into the batter's box, that's it. It's just you. It's one man against the world. All that matters in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/in-baseball-when-you-get-into-the-batter-s-box-that-s-it-it-s-just/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) ## More by Oliver Kahn > [Of course, success is a relative term. It can be something completely different from winning the German championship eight times or making millions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/of-course-success-is-a-relative-term-it-can-be-something-completely/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [When you look at our programme for the next few weeks, you do not fancy a trip to the Oktoberfest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/when-you-look-at-our-programme-for-the-next-few-weeks-you-do-not/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [I have a feeling we are going to be world champions, I can't really explain why. Brazil are probably the best team in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/i-have-a-feeling-we-are-going-to-be-world-champions-i-can-t-really/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [After the 2006 World Cup, I knew that you don't always need success, success, success on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/after-the-2006-world-cup-i-knew-that-you-don-t-always-need-success/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [It's part of my game to occasionally send a message, one that may be unpopular to the outside world, but can be important for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/it-s-part-of-my-game-to-occasionally-send-a-message-one-that-may-be/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [If we perform as a unit and if every single player gives it his very best, everything can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/if-we-perform-as-a-unit-and-if-every-single-player-gives-it-his-very/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [It took me a long time to realize that football isn't martyrdom, but a game that's enjoyable, and one in which getting better at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/it-took-me-a-long-time-to-realize-that-football-isn-t-martyrdom-but-a/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [I have always seen myself as an athlete. Of course, I made the mistake of unintentionally opening the door to my private life by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/i-have-always-seen-myself-as-an-athlete-of-course-i-made-the-mistake/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [A Germany team should not be afraid going into a tournament. History shows that we can raise the level of our game when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/a-germany-team-should-not-be-afraid-going-into-a-tournament-history/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [I was so obsessed with football that you could say I was taking the goal home with me at night. And then one day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/i-was-so-obsessed-with-football-that-you-could-say-i-was-taking-the/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [I'm not the type who spends his free time in training camp playing with his Playstation or playing cards on trips. The other players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/i-m-not-the-type-who-spends-his-free-time-in-training-camp-playing/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [Goalkeepers need an element of insanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/goalkeepers-need-an-element-of-insanity/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [If I play, I try to concentrate on producing my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/if-i-play-i-try-to-concentrate-on-producing-my-best/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [It looked pretty wild, but I was actually in control of myself. I've never really injured anyone throughout my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/it-looked-pretty-wild-but-i-was-actually-in-control-of-myself-i-ve/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [Messi is undoubtedly a gifted footballer, like Maradona and Pele, and he's playing for the best club side in the world at the moment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/messi-is-undoubtedly-a-gifted-footballer-like-maradona-and-pele-and/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) [Explore all 28 Oliver Kahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [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/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) [Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would never have thought I was capable of sitting on the bench as the number two man. 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