--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing you can't beat in this world is…" description: "\"One thing you can't beat in this world is time. I learnt that the hard way. You can't play basketball forever. You can't play football forever. You can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/ronnie-coleman-7783_back-in-time_one-thing-you-can-t-beat-in-this-world-i_1812465.jpg" --- # One thing you can't beat in this world is time. I learnt… ![“One thing you can't beat in this world is time. I learnt that the hard way. You can't play basketball forever. You can't play football forever. You can't bodybuild forever. I mean you CAN do it, but not at a high level against younger guys who have more time and have not reached their peaks yet…” quote by Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/ronnie-coleman-7783_back-in-time_one-thing-you-can-t-beat-in-this-world-i_1812465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/ronnie-coleman-7783_back-in-time_one-thing-you-can-t-beat-in-this-world-i_1812465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/ronnie-coleman-7783_back-in-time_one-thing-you-can-t-beat-in-this-world-i_1812465.jpg) > “One thing you can't beat in this world is time. I learnt that the hard way. You can't play basketball forever. You can't play football forever. You can't bodybuild forever. I mean you CAN do it, but not at a high level against younger guys who have more time and have not reached their peaks yet. There's only so much the body can do and once you're done, you can't go back in time.” [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical abilities decline with age; you can still train but cannot maintain peak performance forever. **In simple terms:** Aging limits peak performance. Key Takeaway Accept limits, focus on sustainable training. Themes aging sports realism Mood reflective realistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal training - coaching - career planning Key Concepts physiology career longevity Questions to Reflect On - How will you adjust goals as you age? - What sustainable habits can you adopt now? A Different Perspective You can still improve, but not at elite level forever. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Back in time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-in-time/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-forever-1482263/) [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-time-296261/) [Bodybuild Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuild-forever-2126484/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-forever-307133/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Forever Bodybuild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever-bodybuild-2126485/) [Go back in time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go-back-in-time/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-way/) [High level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-level/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [More time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more-time/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-football/) [This world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-world/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [You can do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-can-do-it/) ## Related quotes > [I owe basketball. I'm forever indebted to it. It engulfed my life for the positive. The game has gotten more of my time than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-owe-basketball-i-m-forever-indebted-to-it-it-engulfed-my-life-for/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [It's one of those things where it's not something you want to do; nobody wants to retire from basketball. You want to play basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wallace/it-s-one-of-those-things-where-it-s-not-something-you-want-to-do/) [Ben Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wallace/) > [Education, for me, was big. It allows me to have different avenues, job-wise, because basketball is not forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-green/education-for-me-was-big-it-allows-me-to-have-different-avenues-job/) [Jeff Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-green/) > [I've been playing basketball since forever. The highlight of my high school career was scoring 51 points with 13 threes in a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/i-ve-been-playing-basketball-since-forever-the-highlight-of-my-high/) [Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/) > [Whether I retire tomorrow or in 20 years, I just want to get as much out as I can. But with that, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/whether-i-retire-tomorrow-or-in-20-years-i-just-want-to-get-as-much/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I've been doing this playing basketball forever. It's always going to be a part of me. I know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-young/i-ve-been-doing-this-playing-basketball-forever-it-s-always-going-to/) [Nick Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-young/) > [I try and work out every day if possible, or as many times as possible in a week. I concentrate on one body part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prateik-babbar/i-try-and-work-out-every-day-if-possible-or-as-many-times-as-possible/) [Prateik Babbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prateik-babbar/) > [“My name is a half an hour early, but my body is on time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-name-is-a-half-an-hour-early-but-my-body-is-on-time/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I don't do a very good job of listening to my body all the time, so I'm trying to learn that even in Year 11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-slater/i-don-t-do-a-very-good-job-of-listening-to-my-body-all-the-time-so-i/) [Matthew Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-slater/) > [Anybody can be fit. But you have to be patient. Give your body some time to adjust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-faris/anybody-can-be-fit-but-you-have-to-be-patient-give-your-body-some/) [Sean Faris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-faris/) > [Fighting isn't an ordinary career, so you have to allow your body time to recover in between training sessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-manuwa/fighting-isn-t-an-ordinary-career-so-you-have-to-allow-your-body-time/) [Jimi Manuwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-manuwa/) > [In this world, there are two times. There is mechanical time and there is body time. The first is as rigid and metallic as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-this-world-there-are-two-times-there-is-mechanical-time-and-there-2/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [In this world, there are two times. There is mechanical time and there is body time." "They do not keep clocks in their houses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-this-world-there-are-two-times-there-is-mechanical-time-and-there/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [A lot of people from the outside looking in don't understand the time that everyone in professional sports dedicates to their body and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-reaves/a-lot-of-people-from-the-outside-looking-in-don-t-understand-the-time/) [Austin Reaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-reaves/) > [I've sacrificed my body, my time, to be who I am and where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-pena/i-ve-sacrificed-my-body-my-time-to-be-who-i-am-and-where-i-am/) [Julianna Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-pena/) ## More by Ronnie Coleman > [I quit working in the police force full time only after I won my third Mr. Olympia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-quit-working-in-the-police-force-full-time-only-after-i-won-my/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I'm always positive when it comes to professional bodybuilding, hell I'm Mr. Olympia for God's sake. If I'm number one in our sport and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-m-always-positive-when-it-comes-to-professional-bodybuilding-hell-i/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [It's hard to be at your best and to know exactly what is your best at all times because even when you do see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/it-s-hard-to-be-at-your-best-and-to-know-exactly-what-is-your-best-at/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Father Time and injuries are tough adversaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/father-time-and-injuries-are-tough-adversaries/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Australia is my favorite place to visit. The fans are great, and the sport of bodybuilding is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/australia-is-my-favorite-place-to-visit-the-fans-are-great-and-the/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [There are times I have to diet 16 weeks at a go, and I had to miss out on stuff I love, like burgers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/there-are-times-i-have-to-diet-16-weeks-at-a-go-and-i-had-to-miss-out/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Even at the age of 12, I knew I had to become a bodybuilder. I don't know why or how, but I just knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/even-at-the-age-of-12-i-knew-i-had-to-become-a-bodybuilder-i-don-t/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Where I'm from, Bastrop, Louisiana, you played football, basketball, and baseball; you ran track - and that was about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/where-i-m-from-bastrop-louisiana-you-played-football-basketball-and/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I've been in pain for so long now I'm just used to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-ve-been-in-pain-for-so-long-now-i-m-just-used-to-it/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [You have to train the best way that is suited to you, a way that will allow you to progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/you-have-to-train-the-best-way-that-is-suited-to-you-a-way-that-will/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Just because your triceps have fallen behind your biceps, doesn't mean you should back off your triceps workouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/just-because-your-triceps-have-fallen-behind-your-biceps-doesn-t-mean/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [Because the Arnold Classic is such a big show, a guy who hasn't been getting a lot of recognition all of a sudden does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/because-the-arnold-classic-is-such-a-big-show-a-guy-who-hasn-t-been/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [I've always been a big guy - I was much larger and stronger than my peers when I was 13 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/i-ve-always-been-a-big-guy-i-was-much-larger-and-stronger-than-my/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [No dessert. I don't do dessert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/no-dessert-i-don-t-do-dessert/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) > [It seems that, every day, a new brand is popping up, and everyone has become an expert on supplements and training. Hey, there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-coleman/it-seems-that-every-day-a-new-brand-is-popping-up-and-everyone-has/) [Ronnie Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) [Explore all 87 Ronnie Coleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-coleman/) ## More Back in time quotes > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [Traveling is all very well if you can get home at night. I would be willing to go around the world if I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/traveling-is-all-very-well-if-you-can-get-home-at-night-i-would-be/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) > [I measure success in terms of the connection with the audience, which we've been able to do in spades. I mean, it's very hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-freston/i-measure-success-in-terms-of-the-connection-with-the-audience-which/) [Tom Freston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-freston/) > [If you could travel back in time to the present moment, what would you do differently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/if-you-could-travel-back-in-time-to-the-present-moment-what-would-you/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [I used to think that I wouldn't change anything from my past, because doing so would inevitably affect who I am now. But considering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-used-to-think-that-i-wouldn-t-change-anything-from-my-past-because/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [If I would do another 'Terminator' movie I would have Terminator travel back in time and tell Arnold not to have a special election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-i-would-do-another-terminator-movie-i-would-have-terminator-travel/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I wouldn't change a thing in my own life, but I'd like to go back in time anyway though, just to some eras that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-in-my-own-life-but-i-d-like-to-go-back-in/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [It's one of those things, when you look back on it, you'd go, "Oh, I could've done without that. If I could go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/it-s-one-of-those-things-when-you-look-back-on-it-you-d-go-oh-i-could/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [If you go back in time you'll find tribes that were essentially only concerned with their own tribal members. If you were a member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/if-you-go-back-in-time-you-ll-find-tribes-that-were-essentially-only/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [ For Bryan \[Cranston \] to go back in time and become this larger-than-life and somewhat theatrical guy, who performed his ideas and rhetoric in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/for-bryan-cranston-to-go-back-in-time-and-become-this-larger-than/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [I am not the man I once was. I do not want to go back in time, to be the second son, the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasco-da-gama/i-am-not-the-man-i-once-was-i-do-not-want-to-go-back-in-time-to-be/) [Vasco da Gama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasco-da-gama/) > [I work for three or four hours a day, in the late morning and early afternoon. Then I go out for a walk and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/i-work-for-three-or-four-hours-a-day-in-the-late-morning-and-early/) [J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) > [Imagine the wheel of time turning in a seemingly endless round, revealing that the beginning is the end of another beginning. This is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-cousineau/imagine-the-wheel-of-time-turning-in-a-seemingly-endless-round/) [Phil Cousineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-cousineau/) > [Go back. Go back in time. Everyone's life is a chain of memories. In each chain there are shining links, happenings where this element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/go-back-go-back-in-time-everyone-s-life-is-a-chain-of-memories-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 112 Back in time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-in-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One thing you can't beat in this world is time. I learnt that the hard way. You can't play basketball forever. You can't play football forever. You can't bodybuild forever. I mean you CAN do it, but not at a high level against younger guys who have more time and have not reached their peaks yet. 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