--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If only I kept my eye on the ball…" description: "\"If only I kept my eye on the ball, Looking downward as does the pro there, I might not see where it was going, at all, But there might be a chance it w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/richard-armour-14098_balls_if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-lookin_2195027.png" --- # If only I kept my eye on the ball, Looking downward as… ![“If only I kept my eye on the ball, Looking downward as does the pro there, I might not see where it was going, at all, But there might be a chance it would go there.” quote by Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/richard-armour-14098_balls_if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-lookin_2195027.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/richard-armour-14098_balls_if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-lookin_2195027.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/richard-armour-14098_balls_if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-lookin_2195027.png) > “If only I kept my eye on the ball, Looking downward as does the pro there, I might not see where it was going, at all, But there might be a chance it would go there.” [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing too narrowly can cause you to miss the larger picture. **In simple terms:** Narrow focus blinds you. Key Takeaway Broaden your perspective. Themes focus vision awareness sports Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - football coaching - personal decision making - risk assessment - creative brainstorming Key Concepts cognitive bias attention situational awareness Questions to Reflect On - What details do you overlook? - How can you balance focus with awareness? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can still lead to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ball Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-looking-792306/) [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eye Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-ball-1463920/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kept Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kept-eye-1143104/) [Looking Downward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-downward-543030/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Pro Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-going-3627748/) ## Related quotes > [Tis looking downward makes one dizzy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/tis-looking-downward-makes-one-dizzy/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [If you're good enough to be a pro, you're going to be able to be a pro pretty quick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cantlay/if-you-re-good-enough-to-be-a-pro-you-re-going-to-be-able-to-be-a-pro/) [Patrick Cantlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cantlay/) > [It took me a while to have success on the pro level so I want to be able to bridge that gap for young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/it-took-me-a-while-to-have-success-on-the-pro-level-so-i-want-to-be/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [My job is to keep my eye on the ball and to stay focused on what can we get done every single day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-job-is-to-keep-my-eye-on-the-ball-and-to-stay-focused-on-what-can/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As I go back and look at the film, if I look at my first year, every time I caught the ball, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/as-i-go-back-and-look-at-the-film-if-i-look-at-my-first-year-every/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [Even before I'm on the ball, I'm always looking to see where I can pass the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/even-before-i-m-on-the-ball-i-m-always-looking-to-see-where-i-can/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [When you get into competition and get under pressure, and get over that ball and are looking at it, and know you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/when-you-get-into-competition-and-get-under-pressure-and-get-over/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [“The first day out, she and Amy kept one eye on the horizon behind them, terrified that Comanches would appear. The second day, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/the-first-day-out-she-and-amy-kept-one-eye-on-the-horizon-behind-them/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [I kept an eye on Chelsea's fortunes after they first tried to sign me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willian/i-kept-an-eye-on-chelsea-s-fortunes-after-they-first-tried-to-sign-me/) [Willian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willian/) > [I like the way Pulisic plays. I have kept an eye on him from when I was in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-wright-phillips/i-like-the-way-pulisic-plays-i-have-kept-an-eye-on-him-from-when-i/) [Shaun Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-wright-phillips/) > [I don't watch a lot of the games on Sunday. But I always kept an eye on the 49ers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-montana/i-don-t-watch-a-lot-of-the-games-on-sunday-but-i-always-kept-an-eye/) [Joe Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-montana/) > [“She kept an eye on the horizon, or where she thought it was, and understood that not everything that existed could be seen. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-scottoline/she-kept-an-eye-on-the-horizon-or-where-she-thought-it-was-and/) [Lisa Scottoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-scottoline/) > [“Collin seemed wholly unfazed by Cameron’s appearance. Jack kept one eye carefully trained on him, thinking things had better stay that way. Gay or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/collin-seemed-wholly-unfazed-by-cameron-s-appearance-jack-kept-one/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [I've just always kept an eye on the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hinchcliffe/i-ve-just-always-kept-an-eye-on-the-future/) [Tony Hinchcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hinchcliffe/) > [“Bannon invariably found some reason to study papers in the corner and then to have a last word; Priebus kept his eye on Bannon;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/bannon-invariably-found-some-reason-to-study-papers-in-the-corner-and/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) ## More by Richard Armour > [This golfer has a wicked slice. And quite a follow-through. That's why his partner, who stood too close, Is on the green in two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/this-golfer-has-a-wicked-slice-and-quite-a-follow-through-that-s-why/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [Beauty is only skin deep, and the world is full of thin skinned people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/beauty-is-only-skin-deep-and-the-world-is-full-of-thin-skinned-people/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [Book burning is a charming old custom, hallowed by antiquity. It has been practiced for centuries by fascists, communists, atheists, school children, rival authors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/book-burning-is-a-charming-old-custom-hallowed-by-antiquity-it-has/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/politics-it-seems-to-me-for-years-or-all-too-long-has-been-concerned/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [I've suffered from all of the hang-ups known, and none is as bad as the telephone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/i-ve-suffered-from-all-of-the-hang-ups-known-and-none-is-as-bad-as/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [Retired is being tired twice, I've thought, first tired of working, then tired of not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/retired-is-being-tired-twice-i-ve-thought-first-tired-of-working-then/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [“Shake and shake the catsup bottle. None will come, and then a lot'll.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/shake-and-shake-the-catsup-bottle-none-will-come-and-then-a-lot-ll/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [If we cannot define stupidity, at least we can trace most human misfortunes and weaknesses to it. Its manifestations are legion, its symptoms are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/if-we-cannot-define-stupidity-at-least-we-can-trace-most-human/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [The hand is quicker than the eye is, but somewhat slower than the fly is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/the-hand-is-quicker-than-the-eye-is-but-somewhat-slower-than-the-fly/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [Rather than earn money, it was Thoreau's idea to reduce his wants so that he would not need to buy anything. As he went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/rather-than-earn-money-it-was-thoreau-s-idea-to-reduce-his-wants-so/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [In such novels as This Side of Paradise and The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald depicts the spirit of the hour which is usually about 4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/in-such-novels-as-this-side-of-paradise-and-the-great-gatsby/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [Middle age is the time of life that a man first notices in his wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/middle-age-is-the-time-of-life-that-a-man-first-notices-in-his-wife/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [How I love to get a letter! I can think of nothing better Than perusing an epistolary item. But deep is my despondence, For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/how-i-love-to-get-a-letter-i-can-think-of-nothing-better-than/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [Libraries: Here is where people, one frequently finds, lower their voices, and raise their minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/libraries-here-is-where-people-one-frequently-finds-lower-their/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) > [I love a finished speaker, I really, truly do I don't mean one who's polished, I just mean one who's through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/i-love-a-finished-speaker-i-really-truly-do-i-don-t-mean-one-who-s/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) [Explore all 48 Richard Armour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. Give me the ball and let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-to-live-up-to-anything-because-i-ve-proven/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [And if we seem nutty to you and if we seem like an odd ball to you, just remember one thing. The mighty oak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-turner/and-if-we-seem-nutty-to-you-and-if-we-seem-like-an-odd-ball-to-you/) [Glenn Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-turner/) > [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/) [Jerry Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-glanville/) [Browse all 3,005 Balls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If only I kept my eye on the ball, Looking downward as does the pro there, I might not see where it was going, at all, But there might be a chance it would go there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Armour" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-looking-downward-as-does-the-pro/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balls" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-looking-downward-as-does-the-pro/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/richard-armour-14098_balls_if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-lookin_2195027.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/richard-armour-14098_balls_if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-lookin_2195027.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/richard-armour-14098_balls_if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-lookin_2195027.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If only I kept my eye on the ball, Looking downward as does the pro there, I might not see where it was…” — Richard Armour", "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": "Richard Armour", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If only I kept my eye...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-looking-downward-as-does-the-pro/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/if-only-i-kept-my-eye-on-the-ball-looking-downward-as-does-the-pro/#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 } } ] } ```