--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Doctors and scientists said breaking the…" description: "\"Doctors and scientists said breaking the four-minute mile was impossible, that one would die in the attempt. Thus, when I got up from the track after c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/roger-bannister-11572_athletic_doctors-and-scientists-said-breaking-the_457674.jpg" --- # Doctors and scientists said breaking the four-minute mile… ![“Doctors and scientists said breaking the four-minute mile was impossible, that one would die in the attempt. Thus, when I got up from the track after collapsing at the finish line, I figured I was dead” quote by Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/roger-bannister-11572_athletic_doctors-and-scientists-said-breaking-the_457674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/roger-bannister-11572_athletic_doctors-and-scientists-said-breaking-the_457674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/roger-bannister-11572_athletic_doctors-and-scientists-said-breaking-the_457674.jpg) > “Doctors and scientists said breaking the four-minute mile was impossible, that one would die in the attempt. Thus, when I got up from the track after collapsing at the finish line, I figured I was dead” [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Breaking perceived limits can feel like dying, yet surviving proves the myth false and highlights human resilience. **In simple terms:** Surpassing limits feels deadly but proves resilience. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges despite fear. Themes resilience human limits perseverance Mood inspirational motivational Type historical sports When to use this quote - athletic training - personal goal setting - motivational coaching Key Concepts sports psychology human potential Questions to Reflect On - What limits have you overcome? - How does fear motivate you? A Different Perspective Physical limits are often mental barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athletic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic/) [Athletic motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletic-motivational/) [Best sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-sports/) [Collapsing Finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collapsing-finish-3981564/) [Die Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-attempt-2219171/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Finish line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish-line/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Great athletic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-athletic/) [Great inspirational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-inspirational-sports/) [Great sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-sports/) [Greatest sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-sports/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-die-1675644/) [Inspirational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-sports/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Mile Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mile-impossible-3981563/) [Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miles/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Motivational inspirational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-inspirational-sports/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Sports in general](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports-in-general/) [Sports training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports-training/) [Track](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track/) ## Related quotes > [A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/a-good-coach-will-make-his-players-see-what-they-can-be-rather-than/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/you-have-to-believe-in-yourself-when-no-one-else-does/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/the-more-difficult-the-victory-the-greater-the-happiness-in-winning/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pele. 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They thought I'd die in the attempt, but I'm here... and you're in my power… I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draco-malfoy/but-i-got-this-far-didn-t-i-they-thought-i-d-die-in-the-attempt-but-i/) [Draco Malfoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draco-malfoy/) > [“L'audace, I'audace, toujours l'audace! “ Remember that, gentlemen. From here on out, until we win or die in the attempt, we will aways be audacious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladislas-farago/l-audace-i-audace-toujours-l-audace-remember-that-gentlemen-from-here/) [Ladislas Farago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladislas-farago/) > [They suffered from the terrible delusion that something could be done. They seemed prepared to make the world the way they wanted it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/they-suffered-from-the-terrible-delusion-that-something-could-be-done/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/he-had-decided-to-live-forever-or-die-in-the-attempt/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## More by Roger Bannister > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [Mothers, unless they were very poor, didn't work. Both of my parents had to leave education. My mother had to work in a cotton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/mothers-unless-they-were-very-poor-didn-t-work-both-of-my-parents-had/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [My concentration was really on getting to university and becoming a doctor. My parents let me know that school marks were important. Achievement was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/my-concentration-was-really-on-getting-to-university-and-becoming-a/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [If there was the opportunity to climb a mountain, or to go ballooning, or some adventurous activity, I would always be keen to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/if-there-was-the-opportunity-to-climb-a-mountain-or-to-go-ballooning/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport as about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/sport-is-not-about-being-wrapped-up-in-cotton-wool-sport-as-about/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [The mile has all the elements of a drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/the-mile-has-all-the-elements-of-a-drama/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad. You cannot run a fast mile race if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/may-is-a-very-early-time-in-the-year-and-the-weather-is-usually-bad/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great stability until the last century. People lived and intermarried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/my-family-actually-lived-in-the-same-village-for-about-400-years-they/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [The human spirit is indomitable. No one can ever say you must not run faster than this or jump higher than that. There will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/the-human-spirit-is-indomitable-no-one-can-ever-say-you-must-not-run/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [Beating John Landy was my defining race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/beating-john-landy-was-my-defining-race/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [I had always wanted to become a neurologist, which is one of the most demanding vocations in medicine. Where do you stop, after all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/i-had-always-wanted-to-become-a-neurologist-which-is-one-of-the-most/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/the-man-who-can-drive-himself-further-once-the-effort-gets-painful-is/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [I was playing rugby and the other games English school children do, and there was an event in which races were run, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/i-was-playing-rugby-and-the-other-games-english-school-children-do/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [If a man coaches himself, then he has only himself to blame when he is beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/if-a-man-coaches-himself-then-he-has-only-himself-to-blame-when-he-is/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [It's amazing that more people have climbed Mount Everest than have broken the 4-minute mile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/it-s-amazing-that-more-people-have-climbed-mount-everest-than-have/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) [Explore all 59 Roger Bannister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) ## More Athletic quotes > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I had no musical or athletic ability, and I wasn't particularly good looking. Comedy was something I could do for attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-had-no-musical-or-athletic-ability-and-i-wasn-t-particularly-good/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I love finding something. For me it's not just about the athletic challenge, it's about finding new things. When I'm not doing that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/i-love-finding-something-for-me-it-s-not-just-about-the-athletic/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [Players at the top level are generally more athletic, stronger and more thoughtful. They have a quicker turn of pace but more than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/players-at-the-top-level-are-generally-more-athletic-stronger-and/) [Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/) > [Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It's dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/natural-talent-only-determines-the-limits-of-your-athletic-potential/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [I was very, very large as a kid and never athletic, and my home life was a little upside down and I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-garrett/i-was-very-very-large-as-a-kid-and-never-athletic-and-my-home-life/) [Brad Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-garrett/) > [There are a lot of athletic trends that I don't have. 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You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [I do a lot of things well, I'm very athletic, I play against guys who are also very athletic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiggins/i-do-a-lot-of-things-well-i-m-very-athletic-i-play-against-guys-who/) [Andrew Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiggins/) > [I do have high expectations for Alex Riley. He seems athletic, articulate and intelligent. 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