---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The cheats always have a way of…"
description: "\"The cheats always have a way of justifying their behaviour - everyone else is getting away with it, so why shouldn't I? But because they're so reliant ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/paula-radcliffe-10337_cheat_the-cheats-always-have-a-way-of-justifyi_238078.jpg"
---

#  The cheats always have a way of justifying their behaviour…

![“The cheats always have a way of justifying their behaviour - everyone else is getting away with it, so why shouldn't I? But because they're so reliant on the drugs - and the drugs are not always perfect, you're not guaranteed to peak at a big event - they don't have the confidence to look in the…” quote by Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/paula-radcliffe-10337_cheat_the-cheats-always-have-a-way-of-justifyi_238078.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/paula-radcliffe-10337_cheat_the-cheats-always-have-a-way-of-justifyi_238078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/paula-radcliffe-10337_cheat_the-cheats-always-have-a-way-of-justifyi_238078.jpg)

> “The cheats always have a way of justifying their behaviour - everyone else is getting away with it, so why shouldn't I? But because they're so reliant on the drugs - and the drugs are not always perfect, you're not guaranteed to peak at a big event - they don't have the confidence to look in the mirror and know that they can go out and give their best. If you're clean and you've prepared well for a race, that's where you have an edge.”

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage argues that cheating is rationalized by others' misconduct, but true advantage comes from clean preparation and confidence, not reliance on imperfect drugs.

**In simple terms:** Cheating is justified by others, but clean preparation wins.

Key Takeaway

Focus on clean training and confidence for true advantage.

Themes

integrity competition self-discipline

Mood

determined reflective

Type

motivational ethical

When to use this quote

- marathon training
- sports competition
- personal health
- mental preparation

Key Concepts

ethics performance psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Can clean athletes ever truly compete on a level field?
- What support helps athletes resist cheating?

A Different Perspective

The argument may oversimplify complex pressures athletes face.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Big Event](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-event/) [Cheat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheat/) [Cheats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheats/) [Cheats Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheats-way-964917/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Get away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-away/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Justifying Behaviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justifying-behaviour-2393658/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Prepared Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared-race-2393659/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/)

## Related quotes

> ['Tis my opinion every man cheats in his own way, and he is only honest who is not discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-centlivre/tis-my-opinion-every-man-cheats-in-his-own-way-and-he-is-only-honest/)

[Susannah Centlivre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-centlivre/)

> [Look-ye, 'tis my Opinion, ev'ry Man cheats in his Way. And he is only honest, who is not discover'd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-centlivre/look-ye-tis-my-opinion-ev-ry-man-cheats-in-his-way-and-he-is-only/)

[Susanna Centlivre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-centlivre/)

> [It's my opinion every man cheats in his way, and he is only honest who of discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-centlivre/it-s-my-opinion-every-man-cheats-in-his-way-and-he-is-only-honest-who/)

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[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

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[Alan Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-huffman/)

> [The cool thing is, when we first did our joint Ring Of Honour-New Japanies Wrestlers, I think that definitely existed. I think the ROH…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cole/the-cool-thing-is-when-we-first-did-our-joint-ring-of-honour-new/)

[Adam Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cole/)

> [“simply telling yourself “I am excited” shifts your demeanor from what they call a threat mindset (stressed out and apprehensive) to an opportunity mindset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stulberg/simply-telling-yourself-i-am-excited-shifts-your-demeanor-from-what/)

[Brad Stulberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stulberg/)

> [After you retire, there's only one big event left…and I ain't ready for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bowden/after-you-retire-there-s-only-one-big-event-left-and-i-ain-t-ready/)

[Bobby Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bowden/)

> [Training can be monotonous, and it is hard work, but you never lose sight of why you are doing it. Every single effort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hoy/training-can-be-monotonous-and-it-is-hard-work-but-you-never-lose/)

[Chris Hoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hoy/)

> [There's plenty of great stuff out there. I think it's just what we do is we all spend our allowance on the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/there-s-plenty-of-great-stuff-out-there-i-think-it-s-just-what-we-do/)

[Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/)

> [For me, managing my energy means slowing myself down before the big event. I slow down the racing thoughts in my mind. I concentrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-howes/for-me-managing-my-energy-means-slowing-myself-down-before-the-big/)

[Lewis Howes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-howes/)

> [The real test of an anchor is when there's a very big event. Sept. 11 is the quintessential example of that, and that day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/the-real-test-of-an-anchor-is-when-there-s-a-very-big-event-sept-11/)

[Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/)

> [With Katrina, it's almost like the sequel that doesn't live up to the original. It's certainly a shocking event and a tragedy, but somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/with-katrina-it-s-almost-like-the-sequel-that-doesn-t-live-up-to-the/)

[Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/)

## More by Paula Radcliffe

> [For an athlete, the biggest pressure comes from within. You know what you want to do and what you're capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/for-an-athlete-the-biggest-pressure-comes-from-within-you-know-what/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [I've been to three Olympics and I don't feel I've ever quite achieved my best at any of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-ve-been-to-three-olympics-and-i-don-t-feel-i-ve-ever-quite-achieved/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [I've had a lot of success over the years racing in New York, but the main point is that I feel the marathon is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-success-over-the-years-racing-in-new-york-but-the/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [The biggest danger is trying to put too much pressure on yourself, trying to get in too good shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/the-biggest-danger-is-trying-to-put-too-much-pressure-on-yourself/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [I was thinking back to all the time in the gym, working hard, and that spurred me on \[winning New York marathon just ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-was-thinking-back-to-all-the-time-in-the-gym-working-hard-and-that/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [As an athlete, there are advantages being with a team and getting regular physio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/as-an-athlete-there-are-advantages-being-with-a-team-and-getting/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [I'm not meek at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-m-not-meek-at-all/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [If you look back at my marathons and ask whether I would swap one of them for my one balls-up, of course I would.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/if-you-look-back-at-my-marathons-and-ask-whether-i-would-swap-one-of/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [You can't magic yourself back 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/you-can-t-magic-yourself-back-10-years/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [An Olympic medal won't define my whole life, although it might look like it to onlookers. When I look back, I should have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/an-olympic-medal-won-t-define-my-whole-life-although-it-might-look/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [I have achieved a lot and I'm grateful for that - I'm just a bit greedy because I want to add the Olympics. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-have-achieved-a-lot-and-i-m-grateful-for-that-i-m-just-a-bit-greedy/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [I have been doing 120 miles a week, when normally I would do about 140.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-have-been-doing-120-miles-a-week-when-normally-i-would-do-about-140/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [I can't imagine living and not running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-can-t-imagine-living-and-not-running/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [Actually I don't choose to expose myself in public. I choose to compete; the other side just comes with the package.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/actually-i-don-t-choose-to-expose-myself-in-public-i-choose-to/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

> [I am not driven by any bitterness by what happened in Athens. I learnt a lot of lessons from it and probably came through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/i-am-not-driven-by-any-bitterness-by-what-happened-in-athens-i-learnt/)

[Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

[Explore all 66 Paula Radcliffe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/)

## More Cheat quotes

> [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/)

[Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/)

> [I'm not a cheat. I'm not a diver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-m-not-a-cheat-i-m-not-a-diver/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [Even with cheat codes, you can't get on my level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-with-cheat-codes-you-can-t-get-on-my-level/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/)

[Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/)

> [I hated myself totally white. So now I cheat. It's my white hair, and I put color there. My grandson says I'm punk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-hated-myself-totally-white-so-now-i-cheat-it-s-my-white-hair-and-i/)

[Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/)

> [“Some people will lie, cheat, steal and back-stab to to get ahead...and to think, all they have to do is READ!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fortune/some-people-will-lie-cheat-steal-and-back-stab-to-to-get-ahead-and-to/)

[Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fortune/)

> [“If love was a game, a lot of people would cheat to win, but little would play it the right way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gabryelle-dos-santos/if-love-was-a-game-a-lot-of-people-would-cheat-to-win-but-little/)

[Amanda gabryelle dos santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gabryelle-dos-santos/)

> [“Rock-Paper-Scissors for it.” “But you always cheat,” Blake whined. “And then you just punch me and growl that ‘rock beats face’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-adams/rock-paper-scissors-for-it-but-you-always-cheat-blake-whined-and-then/)

[Kyle Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-adams/)

> [“The human race, to which so many of my readers belong, has been playing at children's games from the beginning, and will probably do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-human-race-to-which-so-many-of-my-readers-belong-has-been-playing/)

[G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/)

> [I dont play when it comes to being unfaithful. You cheat, you get no second chance &amp; you lost the best thing that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-play-when-it-comes-to-being-unfaithful-you-cheat-you-get-no/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Then they're like addicts; they can't help themselves... They will steal, cheat, embezzle and commit other crimes just to get money to gamble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/then-they-re-like-addicts-they-can-t-help-themselves-they-will-steal/)

[John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/)

> [There can never be such a thing as a free market, because it is human nature to cheat, monopolize, and buy off others so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/there-can-never-be-such-a-thing-as-a-free-market-because-it-is-human/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [If you can't count, they can cheat you. If you can't read, they can beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/if-you-can-t-count-they-can-cheat-you-if-you-can-t-read-they-can-beat/)

[Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/)

> [People still cheat on their wives, that hasn't fallen out of fashion. We all speak of it badly, but it has not fallen out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/people-still-cheat-on-their-wives-that-hasn-t-fallen-out-of-fashion/)

[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/)

[Browse all 1,132 Cheat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheat/)

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