--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You tell yourself that you’re running…" description: "\"“You tell yourself that you’re running toward some goal, chasing some rush, but really you run because the alternative, stopping, scares you to death. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/phil-knight-3238_chasing_you-tell-yourself-that-you-re-running-to_437265.jpg" --- # You tell yourself that you’re running toward some goal… ![“You tell yourself that you’re running toward some goal, chasing some rush, but really you run because the alternative, stopping, scares you to death. So” quote by Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/phil-knight-3238_chasing_you-tell-yourself-that-you-re-running-to_437265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/phil-knight-3238_chasing_you-tell-yourself-that-you-re-running-to_437265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/phil-knight-3238_chasing_you-tell-yourself-that-you-re-running-to_437265.jpg) > ““You tell yourself that you’re running toward some goal, chasing some rush, but really you run because the alternative, stopping, scares you to death. So”” [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often pursue goals out of fear of stagnation rather than genuine desire, driving relentless effort. **In simple terms:** Fear of stopping pushes us to keep moving. Key Takeaway Identify true motivations behind your drive. Themes motivation fear goal‑setting Mood motivational cautionary Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - overcoming fear Key Concepts existential psychology self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What truly excites you about your goals? - How can you balance ambition with well‑being? A Different Perspective If fear dominates, it can lead to burnout and loss of joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ## Related quotes > [No matter how many times I tell myself I'm done I always find myself running back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-many-times-i-tell-myself-i-m-done-i-always-find-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of persons I will say this: it is difficult to tell when they are running aright but easy to see when something has gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/of-persons-i-will-say-this-it-is-difficult-to-tell-when-they-are/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“I saw Secretariat run - really run - for about fifteen seconds, and my life was never the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-rowand/i-saw-secretariat-run-really-run-for-about-fifteen-seconds-and-my/) [George Rowand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-rowand/) > [You can't really run from your roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yung-lean/you-can-t-really-run-from-your-roots/) [Yung Lean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yung-lean/) > [There was always so much encouragement, to just really take it and run with it, from Deadheads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/there-was-always-so-much-encouragement-to-just-really-take-it-and-run/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [When you finally stop running, when you finally fall...just remember that you can pick yourself up, dust yourself off and look around...maybe then you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-drue/when-you-finally-stop-running-when-you-finally-fall-just-remember/) Damian Drue > [I was running since I was 10. Since grade one at school people looked at me and thought, oh gosh she can really run,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-was-running-since-i-was-10-since-grade-one-at-school-people-looked/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I'm chasing my goals, and I haven't been able to make things happen the way I want them to happen. It doesn't feel good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-dos-santos/i-m-chasing-my-goals-and-i-haven-t-been-able-to-make-things-happen/) [Junior dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-dos-santos/) > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [If its meant to be, it will be. End of story. Im not chasing you if you're chasing after someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-its-meant-to-be-it-will-be-end-of-story-im-not-chasing-you-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I say I'm chasing dreams but you know I've been running away from, running away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-posner/i-say-i-m-chasing-dreams-but-you-know-i-ve-been-running-away-from/) [Mike Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-posner/) > [The people who put you down don't have to stop you from chasing your dreams. Stand up, and prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/the-people-who-put-you-down-don-t-have-to-stop-you-from-chasing-your/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) Christoph Niemann > [Don't go chasing love because it'd leave you heart-broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-polydor/don-t-go-chasing-love-because-it-d-leave-you-heart-broken/) [Steve Polydor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-polydor/) ## More by Phil Knight > [A shoe dog is somebody that really loves shoes, and that was me. I was a runner... that became important to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/a-shoe-dog-is-somebody-that-really-loves-shoes-and-that-was-me-i-was/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Perception can be changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/perception-can-be-changed/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Dare to take chances, lest you leave your talent buried in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/dare-to-take-chances-lest-you-leave-your-talent-buried-in-the-ground/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Why is it always so hard to get started?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/why-is-it-always-so-hard-to-get-started/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Play by the rules, but be ferocious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/play-by-the-rules-but-be-ferocious/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Life is growth, You grow or you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/life-is-growth-you-grow-or-you-die/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“If my life was to be all work no play, I wanted my work to be play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/if-my-life-was-to-be-all-work-no-play-i-wanted-my-work-to-be-play/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“he was all the colors of an Easter egg.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/he-was-all-the-colors-of-an-easter-egg/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“what I knew that morning in March 1977 as we settled around the conference table. I wasn’t even sure how these guys reached us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/what-i-knew-that-morning-in-march-1977-as-we-settled-around-the/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“When you make something, when you improve something, when you deliver something, when you add some service or product to the lives of strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/when-you-make-something-when-you-improve-something-when-you-deliver/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“It’s possible that we were never closer, maybe because our relationship had been reduced to its primal essence. He was my dad, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/it-s-possible-that-we-were-never-closer-maybe-because-our/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Oneness—in some way, shape, or form, it’s what every person I’ve ever met has been seeking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/oneness-in-some-way-shape-or-form-it-s-what-every-person-i-ve-ever/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [We wanted Nike to be the world's best sports and fitness company. Once you say that, you have a focus. You don't end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/we-wanted-nike-to-be-the-world-s-best-sports-and-fitness-company-once/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“I wanted to win. No, that’s not right. I simply didn’t want to lose. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/i-wanted-to-win-no-that-s-not-right-i-simply-didn-t-want-to-lose-and/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [I truly believe the American consumer doesn’t want to buy products made under abusive conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/i-truly-believe-the-american-consumer-doesn-t-want-to-buy-products/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) [Explore all 120 Phil Knight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## More Chasing quotes > [Don't go chasing love because it'd leave you heart-broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-polydor/don-t-go-chasing-love-because-it-d-leave-you-heart-broken/) [Steve Polydor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-polydor/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) Christoph Niemann > [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people who put you down don't have to stop you from chasing your dreams. Stand up, and prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/the-people-who-put-you-down-don-t-have-to-stop-you-from-chasing-your/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [I say I'm chasing dreams but you know I've been running away from, running away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-posner/i-say-i-m-chasing-dreams-but-you-know-i-ve-been-running-away-from/) [Mike Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-posner/) > [If its meant to be, it will be. End of story. Im not chasing you if you're chasing after someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-its-meant-to-be-it-will-be-end-of-story-im-not-chasing-you-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm chasing my goals, and I haven't been able to make things happen the way I want them to happen. It doesn't feel good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-dos-santos/i-m-chasing-my-goals-and-i-haven-t-been-able-to-make-things-happen/) [Junior dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-dos-santos/) > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Don't loose your respect chasing people who don't care about.!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb/don-t-loose-your-respect-chasing-people-who-don-t-care-about/) [Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb/) > [“Two things you will never have to chase: True friends & true love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/two-things-you-will-never-have-to-chase-true-friends-true-love/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [Instead of being with a person that sincerely cares and wants to be with us, we long for some one who is chasing after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-being-with-a-person-that-sincerely-cares-and-wants-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are always chasing yourself, if you have testing sessions you test it out then but it's also a thing of growing a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guenther-steiner/you-are-always-chasing-yourself-if-you-have-testing-sessions-you-test/) [Guenther Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guenther-steiner/) > [ People say, "Look, your book \[Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle\] is about tall tales." And I said, "No, you don't understand,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/si-robertson/people-say-look-your-book-tales-and-wisdom-from-duck-dynasty-s/) [Si Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/si-robertson/) > [I'm not going to stress over you anymore. It really isn't worth it. I've tried to work everything out, but you've ignored it. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-going-to-stress-over-you-anymore-it-really-isn-t-worth-it-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only bad dreams are those not worth chasing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-bad-dreams-are-those-not-worth-chasing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 1,181 Chasing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You tell yourself that you’re running toward some goal, chasing some rush, but really you run because the alternative, stopping, scares you to death. 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