--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So many people were ready to write me off…" description: "\"So many people were ready to write me off as being washed up at 20, I started to believe all that negative stuff myself.\" — Riddick Bowe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/riddick-bowe-14478_believe_so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-of_3078353.jpg" --- # So many people were ready to write me off as being washed… ![“So many people were ready to write me off as being washed up at 20, I started to believe all that negative stuff myself.” quote by Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/riddick-bowe-14478_believe_so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-of_3078353.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/riddick-bowe-14478_believe_so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-of_3078353.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/riddick-bowe-14478_believe_so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-of_3078353.jpg) > “So many people were ready to write me off as being washed up at 20, I started to believe all that negative stuff myself.” [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Negative labels led him to internalize doubt, affecting confidence and performance. **In simple terms:** He believed the criticism about himself. Key Takeaway Guard against internalizing others' negativity. Themes confidence self‑talk resilience public perception Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - athlete interviews - coaching sessions - personal development workshops Key Concepts sports psychology identity media influence Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help maintain confidence under criticism? - How does public perception shape self‑image? A Different Perspective Self‑esteem may still be fragile despite awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [20 Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20-started-613732/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-negative-402944/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Washed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washed/) [Washed 20](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washed-20-5238665/) [Write Washed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-washed-5238666/) ## Related quotes > [It was between the ages of 14 and 20 and I started off not eating at all, maybe an apple a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrie-wilson/it-was-between-the-ages-of-14-and-20-and-i-started-off-not-eating-at/) [Torrie Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrie-wilson/) > [I also believe that when something negative comes out about you in the media, that's only one person's opinion. These guys sometimes believe they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/i-also-believe-that-when-something-negative-comes-out-about-you-in/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [I believe that a negative statement is poison.I'm convinced that the negative has power. It lives. And if you allow it to perch in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-believe-that-a-negative-statement-is-poison-i-m-convinced-that-the/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Maybe I'm being philosophical and spiritual, but I believe that if you put negative energy out there that that is what will come back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/persis-khambatta/maybe-i-m-being-philosophical-and-spiritual-but-i-believe-that-if-you/) [Persis Khambatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/persis-khambatta/) > [Don't believe everything negative you hear about yourself, let your mirror be your final judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-goga/don-t-believe-everything-negative-you-hear-about-yourself-let-your/) [Joe Goga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-goga/) > [We have been taught to believe that negative equals realistic and positive equals unrealistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/we-have-been-taught-to-believe-that-negative-equals-realistic-and/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [I always believe that where there's a negative there's a positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-hilton/i-always-believe-that-where-there-s-a-negative-there-s-a-positive/) [Kathy Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-hilton/) > [“Don’t believe negative voices. Listen to the divine-instinct of awaken soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/don-t-believe-negative-voices-listen-to-the-divine-instinct-of-awaken/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [So many of us know what we are against, but not what we are for-what we disbelieve, not what we believe. A negative life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/so-many-of-us-know-what-we-are-against-but-not-what-we-are-for-what/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [Because people are ever willing to believe the negative over the positive. It’s easier for you to think me corrupt and evil than it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/because-people-are-ever-willing-to-believe-the-negative-over-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Don’t believe the negative criticisms. You are capable beyond measure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/don-t-believe-the-negative-criticisms-you-are-capable-beyond-measure/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [There's no way I would have got to see so much of the world, with my humble background, without modelling. We were penniless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-dell-orefice/there-s-no-way-i-would-have-got-to-see-so-much-of-the-world-with-my/) [Carmen Dell'Orefice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-dell-orefice/) > [Some days I can't get an idea, and I think, 'Man, I'm just washed up,' but it's just a mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-basquiat/some-days-i-can-t-get-an-idea-and-i-think-man-i-m-just-washed-up-but/) [Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-basquiat/) > [In the history of the world, no one has ever washed a rented car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/in-the-history-of-the-world-no-one-has-ever-washed-a-rented-car/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [Some people say I'm all washed up. Joke's on them, I haven't bathed in weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-pratt/some-people-say-i-m-all-washed-up-joke-s-on-them-i-haven-t-bathed-in/) [Spencer Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-pratt/) ## More by Riddick Bowe > [I always tried to be different from everyone else. Then I found out about boxing. That was the way I could be different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-always-tried-to-be-different-from-everyone-else-then-i-found-out/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [What would I do without boxing? That's the question, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/what-would-i-do-without-boxing-that-s-the-question-isn-t-it/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [I had a goal. I was on a mission. And somewhere along the line I lost sight of what I was supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-had-a-goal-i-was-on-a-mission-and-somewhere-along-the-line-i-lost/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [I love to eat, and I have no problem telling anybody that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-love-to-eat-and-i-have-no-problem-telling-anybody-that/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [I hate hearing my voice on the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-hate-hearing-my-voice-on-the-radio/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [If somebody tells you that after being champion you're not going to miss the attention, he's lying to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/if-somebody-tells-you-that-after-being-champion-you-re-not-going-to/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [When you get hit in the head, you don't recover from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/when-you-get-hit-in-the-head-you-don-t-recover-from-that/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [You need to have that killer instinct. It can't be taught. Where does it come from? A couple slaps. A couple things you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/you-need-to-have-that-killer-instinct-it-can-t-be-taught-where-does/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [Chris Byrd is a good fighter, but I put him to sleep in five, seven rounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/chris-byrd-is-a-good-fighter-but-i-put-him-to-sleep-in-five-seven/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [With Evander Holyfield, I anticipate this being a hard fight. But each time out, you don't want it to be a hard fight. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/with-evander-holyfield-i-anticipate-this-being-a-hard-fight-but-each/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [I miss boxing. I miss everybody and everything. I miss the attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-miss-boxing-i-miss-everybody-and-everything-i-miss-the-attention/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [I learned a long time ago that no one wants to hear excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-learned-a-long-time-ago-that-no-one-wants-to-hear-excuses/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [I have a bus that's 40 feet long. When I was in training camp, I was scared to fly, so I used the bus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-have-a-bus-that-s-40-feet-long-when-i-was-in-training-camp-i-was/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [I'm capitalizing on a lot of mistakes that champions made before me. I hear a lot of guys say if they were champion again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-m-capitalizing-on-a-lot-of-mistakes-that-champions-made-before-me-i/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) > [I want to be more than the heavyweight champion. I want to do great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/i-want-to-be-more-than-the-heavyweight-champion-i-want-to-do-great/) [Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) [Explore all 46 Riddick Bowe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. 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It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So many people were ready to write me off as being washed up at 20, I started to believe all that negative stuff myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Riddick Bowe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-off-as-being-washed-up-at-20-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-off-as-being-washed-up-at-20-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/riddick-bowe-14478_believe_so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-of_3078353.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/riddick-bowe-14478_believe_so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-of_3078353.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/riddick-bowe-14478_believe_so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-of_3078353.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So many people were ready to write me off as being washed up at 20, I started to believe all that negative…” — Riddick Bowe", "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": "Riddick Bowe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "So many people were ready to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-off-as-being-washed-up-at-20-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/so-many-people-were-ready-to-write-me-off-as-being-washed-up-at-20-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 } } ] } ```