--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't define myself by my successes. I…" description: "\"I don't define myself by my successes. I define myself by adversity and how I've persevered.\" — Shaquem Griffin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/shaquem-griffin-10374_adversity_i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i_1143915.jpg" --- # I don't define myself by my successes. I define myself by… ![“I don't define myself by my successes. I define myself by adversity and how I've persevered.” quote by Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/shaquem-griffin-10374_adversity_i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i_1143915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/shaquem-griffin-10374_adversity_i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i_1143915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/shaquem-griffin-10374_adversity_i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i_1143915.jpg) > “I don't define myself by my successes. I define myself by adversity and how I've persevered.” [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal identity is shaped more by overcoming hardship than by achievements alone. **In simple terms:** Identity comes from adversity. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as growth. Themes resilience identity adversity growth Mood inspirational determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career setbacks - health challenges - personal development Key Concepts psychology self‑concept motivation Questions to Reflect On - What adversity has defined you? - How do successes complement hardships? A Different Perspective Focusing on adversity may overlook the value of success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Adversity Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity-ve-1352527/) [Define](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define/) [Define Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-adversity-3201987/) [Define Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-myself/) [Define Successes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-successes-3201988/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successes Define](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successes-define-3201986/) ## Related quotes > [The ability to lean into adversity is something I've always had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cub-swanson/the-ability-to-lean-into-adversity-is-something-i-ve-always-had/) [Cub Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cub-swanson/) > [All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/all-the-adversity-i-ve-had-in-my-life-all-my-troubles-and-obstacles/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Initially, I know that I handled it worse than she did and I think partly because I've always been... every bit of adversity I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-favre/initially-i-know-that-i-handled-it-worse-than-she-did-and-i-think/) [Brett Favre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-favre/) > [We're going to be better from our losses and from the adversity we've faced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auston-matthews/we-re-going-to-be-better-from-our-losses-and-from-the-adversity-we-ve/) [Auston Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auston-matthews/) > [I'm a very loyal person and I allowed myself to be defined as somebody who was doing Gordon's bidding. I should have fought back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-balls/i-m-a-very-loyal-person-and-i-allowed-myself-to-be-defined-as/) [Ed Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-balls/) > [Women's art, political art - those categorisations perpetuate a certain kind of marginality which I'm resistant to. But I absolutely define myself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kruger/women-s-art-political-art-those-categorisations-perpetuate-a-certain/) [Barbara Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kruger/) > [I have lived life enough to know that I define myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/i-have-lived-life-enough-to-know-that-i-define-myself/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [I define myself from a vision, from a point of view of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-define-myself-from-a-vision-from-a-point-of-view-of-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I hope not to define myself by suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/i-hope-not-to-define-myself-by-suffering/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [I would define myself as a Marxian, and that means of course also as a humanist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-would-define-myself-as-a-marxian-and-that-means-of-course-also-as-a/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [I don't remember a time when I didn't define myself as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/i-don-t-remember-a-time-when-i-didn-t-define-myself-as-a-writer/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [I used to think I needed a man to define myself. Not any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/capucine/i-used-to-think-i-needed-a-man-to-define-myself-not-any-more/) [Capucine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/capucine/) > [I still define myself by the places that I've been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-still-define-myself-by-the-places-that-i-ve-been/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I like to define myself as a fighter on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-jesus/i-like-to-define-myself-as-a-fighter-on-the-pitch/) [Gabriel Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-jesus/) > [I find it hard to define myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-find-it-hard-to-define-myself/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) ## More by Shaquem Griffin > [You'll never see me coming around the corner not smiling... I mean, I enjoy every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/you-ll-never-see-me-coming-around-the-corner-not-smiling-i-mean-i/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [When I was at UCF, I played a lot of different positions, so I don't feel uncomfortable moving around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/when-i-was-at-ucf-i-played-a-lot-of-different-positions-so-i-don-t/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I remember after the surgery, the next day, my mom was like, you know, 'Don't get your bandage dirty. Don't go outside and throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-remember-after-the-surgery-the-next-day-my-mom-was-like-you-know/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [Usually, I don't just talk and not back it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/usually-i-don-t-just-talk-and-not-back-it-up/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [It was a competitive household. If I wanted to win at something, I had to work for it. It made me understand I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/it-was-a-competitive-household-if-i-wanted-to-win-at-something-i-had/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I'm not just a feel-good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-m-not-just-a-feel-good-story/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I always tell everybody, if I can inspire one, they can inspire one more, and I can inspire a thousand later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-always-tell-everybody-if-i-can-inspire-one-they-can-inspire-one/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I give all thanks to God. But I'm just here to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-give-all-thanks-to-god-but-i-m-just-here-to-play-football/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I took a couple footballs to the face before I learned to catch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-took-a-couple-footballs-to-the-face-before-i-learned-to-catch/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [Having faith and trust that one day things will be greater, it sometimes is the one thing you need to stay positive in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/having-faith-and-trust-that-one-day-things-will-be-greater-it/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [It's no better feeling than coming into a game being the underdog, and everybody going around telling you you can't win, and people say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/it-s-no-better-feeling-than-coming-into-a-game-being-the-underdog-and/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [My expectations for myself were really high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/my-expectations-for-myself-were-really-high/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I'm going to keep proving people wrong because I have a lot of people to prove wrong, a lot of doubters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-m-going-to-keep-proving-people-wrong-because-i-have-a-lot-of-people/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [No matter if you have one hand or two hands, when someone tells you you can't do something, the only thing you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/no-matter-if-you-have-one-hand-or-two-hands-when-someone-tells-you/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [You're not disabled unless you say 'I'm disabled.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/you-re-not-disabled-unless-you-say-i-m-disabled/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) [Explore all 66 Shaquem Griffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't define myself by my successes. I define myself by adversity and how I've persevered.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shaquem Griffin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i-define-myself-by-adversity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i-define-myself-by-adversity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/shaquem-griffin-10374_adversity_i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i_1143915.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/shaquem-griffin-10374_adversity_i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i_1143915.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/658/shaquem-griffin-10374_adversity_i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i_1143915.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't define myself by my successes. I define myself by adversity and how I've persevered.” — Shaquem Griffin", "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": "Shaquem Griffin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't define myself by my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i-define-myself-by-adversity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-don-t-define-myself-by-my-successes-i-define-myself-by-adversity/#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 } } ] } ```