--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't really feel much more confident…" description: "\"I don't really feel much more confident than I did the last couple years. I've always felt like I have a pretty good knuckleball. I worked hard to do t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/r-a-dickey-24700_confident_i-don-t-really-feel-much-more-confident_989707.png" --- # I don't really feel much more confident than I did the… ![“I don't really feel much more confident than I did the last couple years. I've always felt like I have a pretty good knuckleball. I worked hard to do that.?” quote by R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/r-a-dickey-24700_confident_i-don-t-really-feel-much-more-confident_989707.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/r-a-dickey-24700_confident_i-don-t-really-feel-much-more-confident_989707.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbd/r-a-dickey-24700_confident_i-don-t-really-feel-much-more-confident_989707.png) > “I don't really feel much more confident than I did the last couple years. I've always felt like I have a pretty good knuckleball. I worked hard to do that.?” [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He feels his confidence unchanged despite recent effort, likening his skill to a well‑practiced knuckleball. **In simple terms:** Confidence unchanged despite hard work. Key Takeaway Recognize progress beyond confidence. Themes self‑assessment confidence skill development Mood reflective neutral Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - sports competition - career evaluation - personal growth Key Concepts psychology performance self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure real growth? - What evidence shows skill improvement? A Different Perspective Confidence may not reflect actual improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Knuckleballs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knuckleballs/) ## Related quotes > [It's a pitch you can extend your career with because it's less taxing on your body. It's like dog years, but in reverse. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/it-s-a-pitch-you-can-extend-your-career-with-because-it-s-less-taxing/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [The # knuckleball can be a metaphor of what it's like to let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/the-knuckleball-can-be-a-metaphor-of-what-it-s-like-to-let-go/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [Like some cult religion that barely survives, there has always been at least one but rarely more than five or six devotees throwing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/like-some-cult-religion-that-barely-survives-there-has-always-been-at/) [Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/) > [I couldn't throw a knuckleball if my life depended on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gio-gonzalez/i-couldn-t-throw-a-knuckleball-if-my-life-depended-on-it/) [Gio Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gio-gonzalez/) > [Look for the seams (on a knuckleball) and then hit in-between them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmon-killebrew/look-for-the-seams-on-a-knuckleball-and-then-hit-in-between-them/) [Harmon Killebrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmon-killebrew/) > [There are two theories on hitting the knuckleball. Unfortunately, neither of them work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-lau/there-are-two-theories-on-hitting-the-knuckleball-unfortunately/) Charley Lau > [You don't catch the knuckleball, you defend against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/you-don-t-catch-the-knuckleball-you-defend-against-it/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [Throwing a knuckleball for a strike is like throwing a butterfly with hiccups across the street into your neighbor's mailbox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/throwing-a-knuckleball-for-a-strike-is-like-throwing-a-butterfly-with/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [He (Hoyt Wilhelm) had the best knuckleball you'd ever want to see. He knew where it was going when he threw it, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-robinson/he-hoyt-wilhelm-had-the-best-knuckleball-you-d-ever-want-to-see-he/) [Brooks Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-robinson/) > [You know, catching the knuckleball, it's like trying to catch a fly with a chopstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-varitek/you-know-catching-the-knuckleball-it-s-like-trying-to-catch-a-fly/) Jason Varitek > [It's (Phil Niekro's knuckleball) like watching Mario Andretti park a car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-kiner/it-s-phil-niekro-s-knuckleball-like-watching-mario-andretti-park-a-car/) [Ralph Kiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-kiner/) > [ \[A knuckleball is\] a curve ball that doesn't give a damn. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cannon/a-knuckleball-is-a-curve-ball-that-doesn-t-give-a-damn/) [Jimmy Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cannon/) > [I hope women feel confident with themselves and realize that we don't all have to look alike or be the same size to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-hope-women-feel-confident-with-themselves-and-realize-that-we-don-t/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I feel good with my slider a lot. When I'm far behind the count I use it ... so I feel confident with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ubaldo-jimenez/i-feel-good-with-my-slider-a-lot-when-i-m-far-behind-the-count-i-use/) Ubaldo Jimenez > [Every single pore - not on the men, but on the women - is scrutinized, so I am really grateful that I feel very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/every-single-pore-not-on-the-men-but-on-the-women-is-scrutinized-so-i/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) ## More by R.A. Dickey > [I had a lot of fear that would motivate me to try to work hard, because I didn't know what I would do if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-had-a-lot-of-fear-that-would-motivate-me-to-try-to-work-hard/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [Ultimately, our lives hinge on the ability to make right choices and decisions. By God's grace, I made the most important decision a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/ultimately-our-lives-hinge-on-the-ability-to-make-right-choices-and/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [“One of the supreme paradoxes of baseball, and all sports, is that the harder you try to throw a pitch or hit a ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/one-of-the-supreme-paradoxes-of-baseball-and-all-sports-is-that-the/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [The more I grew as a human being, the better I became at my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/the-more-i-grew-as-a-human-being-the-better-i-became-at-my-craft/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [I could never get a real good clear picture of what I could become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-could-never-get-a-real-good-clear-picture-of-what-i-could-become/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [I think what motivated me was just hope. Something inside of me, deep down in my guts, always felt like there was something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-think-what-motivated-me-was-just-hope-something-inside-of-me-deep/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [You never go into a season thinking you're going to strike out 200 guys or that you would have the most double-digit strikeout games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/you-never-go-into-a-season-thinking-you-re-going-to-strike-out-200/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [The # knuckleball can be a metaphor of what it's like to let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/the-knuckleball-can-be-a-metaphor-of-what-it-s-like-to-let-go/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [Who doesn’t want a Cy Young Award? What kid didn’t grow up wanting to be the best? I’m no different. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/who-doesn-t-want-a-cy-young-award-what-kid-didn-t-grow-up-wanting-to/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [Realistically, I shouldn't be able to turn a doorknob without having some discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/realistically-i-shouldn-t-be-able-to-turn-a-doorknob-without-having/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [It's a pitch you can extend your career with because it's less taxing on your body. It's like dog years, but in reverse. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/it-s-a-pitch-you-can-extend-your-career-with-because-it-s-less-taxing/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [If you aren't willing to face your demons-if you can't find the courage to take on your fear and hurt and anger-you might as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/if-you-aren-t-willing-to-face-your-demons-if-you-can-t-find-the/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [I had a wife that did not want me to have a singular regret about chasing my dream, which helped me tremendously. I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/i-had-a-wife-that-did-not-want-me-to-have-a-singular-regret-about/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [There's been this steady metamorphosis from just surviving to being a craftsman and, ultimately, the hope is to be an artist in what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/there-s-been-this-steady-metamorphosis-from-just-surviving-to-being-a/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) > [When you start a game, you don't think to yourself, "well, OK, I'm going throw a one-hitter today." It just becomes an organism, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-dickey/when-you-start-a-game-you-don-t-think-to-yourself-well-ok-i-m-going/) [R.A. Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) [Explore all 24 R.A. Dickey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-dickey/) ## More Confident quotes > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I've always been very hard on myself, and I never want to get to a point where I'm like, 'Alright, I'm kicking butt,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/i-ve-always-been-very-hard-on-myself-and-i-never-want-to-get-to-a/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [There comes a time in the UFC when you've had enough fights, you have enough experience that you're confident in your abilities and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hooker/there-comes-a-time-in-the-ufc-when-you-ve-had-enough-fights-you-have/) [Dan Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hooker/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [“Once you get into your thirties, you stop giving a fuck what people think about your opinions. You're more confident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/once-you-get-into-your-thirties-you-stop-giving-a-fuck-what-people/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [I have the utmost confidence in General Mattis, General Flynn, General Kelly, Dan Coates. I couldn't have picked a better team. And so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-have-the-utmost-confidence-in-general-mattis-general-flynn-general/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“You will get your father's wealth one day but not his legacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-will-get-your-father-s-wealth-one-day-but-not-his-legacy/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [I was a very confident little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-was-a-very-confident-little-kid/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Every single pore - not on the men, but on the women - is scrutinized, so I am really grateful that I feel very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/every-single-pore-not-on-the-men-but-on-the-women-is-scrutinized-so-i/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I was always confident that if someone took the chance to play me week in and week out that I would fulfil my potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-was-always-confident-that-if-someone-took-the-chance-to-play-me/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [Be confident in your self, because if you're not who will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mulder/be-confident-in-your-self-because-if-you-re-not-who-will/) [Joseph Mulder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mulder/) > [Just be confident. Confidence is the most attractive part of a person. Because if they're not confident enough to show you who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/just-be-confident-confidence-is-the-most-attractive-part-of-a-person/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) [Browse all 1,860 Confident quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't really feel much more confident than I did the last couple years. I've always felt like I have a pretty good knuckleball. I worked hard to do that.?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R.A. 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