---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time I was a young man, I lived…"
description: "\"By the time I was a young man, I lived with two deep struggles: I longed to become a cricketer, and I performed miserably in school. Cricket and tennis..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/ravi-zacharias-1158_cricket_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-wi_1908115.png"
---

#  By the time I was a young man, I lived with two deep…

![“By the time I was a young man, I lived with two deep struggles: I longed to become a cricketer, and I performed miserably in school. Cricket and tennis were all that I lived for. In India, this was a formula for failure.” quote by Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/ravi-zacharias-1158_cricket_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-wi_1908115.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/ravi-zacharias-1158_cricket_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-wi_1908115.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/ravi-zacharias-1158_cricket_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-wi_1908115.png)

> “By the time I was a young man, I lived with two deep struggles: I longed to become a cricketer, and I performed miserably in school. Cricket and tennis were all that I lived for. In India, this was a formula for failure.”

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

## About This Quote

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

Balancing a passion for sports with academic struggles creates tension, especially in cultures valuing education over athletics.

**In simple terms:** Passion vs. expectations cause conflict.

Key Takeaway

Find balance between sport and study.

Themes

sports education culture identity conflict

Mood

determined conflicted

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- student athletes
- career planning
- family expectations

Key Concepts

social expectations personal ambition

Questions to Reflect On

- Can you integrate both passions?
- What support systems help you?

A Different Perspective

Societal pressure may force a choice, limiting fulfillment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cricket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/) [Cricket Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket-tennis-873811/) [Cricketer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricketer/) [Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Formulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formulas/) [India](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/india/) [Longed Cricketer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longed-cricketer-2856472/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggles/) [Struggles Longed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggles-longed-2856473/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/)

## Related quotes

> [Cricket and tennis are very different skill sets, but I've played tennis all my life, so it's a lot easier coming back than learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-barty/cricket-and-tennis-are-very-different-skill-sets-but-i-ve-played/)

[Ashleigh Barty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-barty/)

> [I was cycling until I was 68. I used to play football, cricket, tennis, table tennis. I was into road walking - heel and toe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-skinner/i-was-cycling-until-i-was-68-i-used-to-play-football-cricket-tennis/)

[Dennis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-skinner/)

> [I'm always a cricketer who loves to take responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/i-m-always-a-cricketer-who-loves-to-take-responsibilities/)

[Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/)

> [If someone thinks, 'I'll spend the off season working on my fitness and I'll come back a better cricketer,' I don't think that's enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-dravid/if-someone-thinks-i-ll-spend-the-off-season-working-on-my-fitness-and/)

[Rahul Dravid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-dravid/)

> [I just love to play the sport. It maybe a cliche, but it's true for me. I'm constantly trying to be the best cricketer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/i-just-love-to-play-the-sport-it-maybe-a-cliche-but-it-s-true-for-me/)

[Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/)

> [It's every cricketer's dream to play in the World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imran-tahir/it-s-every-cricketer-s-dream-to-play-in-the-world-cup/)

[Imran Tahir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imran-tahir/)

> [I am from a sports background, and always wanted to become either a cricketer or footballer; in short, just play some sport and represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-sood/i-am-from-a-sports-background-and-always-wanted-to-become-either-a/)

[Sonu Sood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-sood/)

> [Cricket is not like a government job where retirement age is fixed at A cricketer can retire at 30 or 60; it's up to the player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/cricket-is-not-like-a-government-job-where-retirement-age-is-fixed-at/)

[Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/)

> [All of us at some point have been coached by a male cricketer. I strongly believe that they get a lot of intensity into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mithali-raj/all-of-us-at-some-point-have-been-coached-by-a-male-cricketer-i/)

[Mithali Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mithali-raj/)

> [I've made peace with the fact that the World Cup will not define me. Yes, it would be nice to add that to what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-ve-made-peace-with-the-fact-that-the-world-cup-will-not-define-me/)

[AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/)

> [I don't think I would have made it as a cricketer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrenson/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-made-it-as-a-cricketer/)

[Mark Lawrenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrenson/)

> [It isn't easy being a celebrity cricketer in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-dev/it-isn-t-easy-being-a-celebrity-cricketer-in-india/)

[Kapil Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-dev/)

> [A great cricketer must be an artist and express himself in his strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hughes/a-great-cricketer-must-be-an-artist-and-express-himself-in-his-strokes/)

[Margaret Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hughes/)

> [As a cricketer, you need to keep moving and learning every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-shankar/as-a-cricketer-you-need-to-keep-moving-and-learning-every-day/)

[Vijay Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-shankar/)

> [If you want to to be a smart cricketer, you have to play according to the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/if-you-want-to-to-be-a-smart-cricketer-you-have-to-play-according-to/)

[Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/)

## More by Ravi Zacharias

> [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“How do we build root systems capable of weathering every storm that seeks to draw us into the temporary and the profane?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/how-do-we-build-root-systems-capable-of-weathering-every-storm-that/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [You see misery, you see misfortune, you see pain, you see suffering. It's all part of the fatalistic way of looking at life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/you-see-misery-you-see-misfortune-you-see-pain-you-see-suffering-it-s/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [Truth is not only a matter of offense, in that it makes certain assertions. It is also a matter of defense in that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/truth-is-not-only-a-matter-of-offense-in-that-it-makes-certain/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“We are his temple. We do not turn in a certain directlon to pray. We are not bound by having to go into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/we-are-his-temple-we-do-not-turn-in-a-certain-directlon-to-pray-we/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“Sometimes in the shadows of one’s self lie the problems, and in the shadows of one’s shaping lie the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/sometimes-in-the-shadows-of-one-s-self-lie-the-problems-and-in-the/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear anything? I said, 'I suspect they would fear a morally strong America.' They would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-terrorists-fear-anything-i/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [When you come to religion, you come to a place. When you come to Jesus Christ, you come to a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/when-you-come-to-religion-you-come-to-a-place-when-you-come-to-jesus/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“Philosophically, you can believe anything, so long as you do not claim it to be true. Morally, you can practice anything, so long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/philosophically-you-can-believe-anything-so-long-as-you-do-not-claim/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [None of us like the concept of law because none of us like the restraints it puts on us. But when we understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/none-of-us-like-the-concept-of-law-because-none-of-us-like-the/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“That truth, by the way, is why even the horror of hell is more the outcome of a heart that seeks to disown God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/that-truth-by-the-way-is-why-even-the-horror-of-hell-is-more-the/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [But life's joys are only joys if they can be shared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/but-life-s-joys-are-only-joys-if-they-can-be-shared/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [Having the answers is not essential to living. What is essential is the sense of God's presence during dark seasons of questioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/having-the-answers-is-not-essential-to-living-what-is-essential-is/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [Only through repentance and faith in Christ can anyone be saved. No religious activity will be sufficient, only true faith in Jesus Christ alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/only-through-repentance-and-faith-in-christ-can-anyone-be-saved-no/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [In naturalism, man is actually very insignificant, but arrogates to himself stupendous power. In Christianity, man is actually the apex of created significance, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/in-naturalism-man-is-actually-very-insignificant-but-arrogates-to/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

[Explore all 279 Ravi Zacharias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

## More Cricket quotes

> [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/)

[Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/)

> [In summer, my Sundays are often taken up with cricket. I play with a bunch of other over-competitive and overenthusiastic guys who I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elliot/in-summer-my-sundays-are-often-taken-up-with-cricket-i-play-with-a/)

[Ben Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elliot/)

> [The way you get wickets is, you've got to build pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-arthur/the-way-you-get-wickets-is-you-ve-got-to-build-pressure/)

[Mickey Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-arthur/)

> [Runs are important, don't get me wrong, but it will be wickets that I will be judged on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/runs-are-important-don-t-get-me-wrong-but-it-will-be-wickets-that-i/)

[Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/)

> [Cricket, politics, and cinema is what a majority in our country are most passionate about. They have the power to divide the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/cricket-politics-and-cinema-is-what-a-majority-in-our-country-are/)

[Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/)

> [I used to stay near Hazra Law College and play a lot of street cricket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanshu-chatterjee/i-used-to-stay-near-hazra-law-college-and-play-a-lot-of-street-cricket/)

[Priyanshu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanshu-chatterjee/)

> [Being at the top of the ICC rankings is a matter of great pride for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasprit-bumrah/being-at-the-top-of-the-icc-rankings-is-a-matter-of-great-pride-for-me/)

[Jasprit Bumrah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasprit-bumrah/)

> [If you want to to be a smart cricketer, you have to play according to the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/if-you-want-to-to-be-a-smart-cricketer-you-have-to-play-according-to/)

[Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/)

> [There is no reason why one should believe you should leave out politicians in cricket or any sport for that matter. There are ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roosevelt-skerrit/there-is-no-reason-why-one-should-believe-you-should-leave-out/)

[Roosevelt Skerrit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roosevelt-skerrit/)

> [The Twenty20 is itself a banal game, a crude game, but it works, so I hope Twenty20 commentary works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/the-twenty20-is-itself-a-banal-game-a-crude-game-but-it-works-so-i/)

[Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/)

> [I began playing at the age of six, but at that point, I had little idea of cricket; forget the talent part. It's around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prithvi-shaw/i-began-playing-at-the-age-of-six-but-at-that-point-i-had-little-idea/)

[Prithvi Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prithvi-shaw/)

> [We West Indian cricketers are always proud to play for the West Indies and we know we are made up of different islands and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lara/we-west-indian-cricketers-are-always-proud-to-play-for-the-west/)

[Brian Lara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lara/)

> [We are a country obsessed by records. For us, hundreds, ten thousand runs, and large haul of wickets are more important than the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/we-are-a-country-obsessed-by-records-for-us-hundreds-ten-thousand/)

[Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/)

> [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/)

[Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/)

> [“The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last for ever. Even on the most beautiful days in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-crickets-felt-it-was-their-duty-to-warn-everybody-that-summertime/)

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

[Browse all 3,044 Cricket quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "By the time I was a young man, I lived with two deep struggles: I longed to become a cricketer, and I performed miserably in school. Cricket and tennis were all that I lived for. In India, this was a formula for failure.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ravi Zacharias"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-with-two-deep-struggles-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cricket"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-with-two-deep-struggles-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/ravi-zacharias-1158_cricket_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-wi_1908115.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/ravi-zacharias-1158_cricket_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-wi_1908115.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/290/ravi-zacharias-1158_cricket_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-wi_1908115.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“By the time I was a young man, I lived with two deep struggles: I longed to become a cricketer, and I…” — Ravi Zacharias",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ravi Zacharias",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "By the time I was a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-with-two-deep-struggles-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-lived-with-two-deep-struggles-i/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
