--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I loved being the best player in the…" description: "\"I loved being the best player in the world. There was no pressure staying there.\" — Stephen Hendry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/stephen-hendry-5581_being-the-best_i-loved-being-the-best-player-in-the-wor_1305694.jpg" --- # I loved being the best player in the world. There was no… ![“I loved being the best player in the world. There was no pressure staying there.” quote by Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/stephen-hendry-5581_being-the-best_i-loved-being-the-best-player-in-the-wor_1305694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/stephen-hendry-5581_being-the-best_i-loved-being-the-best-player-in-the-wor_1305694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/stephen-hendry-5581_being-the-best_i-loved-being-the-best-player-in-the-wor_1305694.jpg) > “I loved being the best player in the world. There was no pressure staying there.” [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects that being the best removed pressure because expectations were low. **In simple terms:** Success can feel pressureless. Key Takeaway Embrace success without fear. Themes achievement pressure confidence Mood reflective confident Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports competition - career milestones - personal goals Key Concepts psychology of performance expectations Questions to Reflect On - How does success change personal expectations? - Can pressure be a motivator? A Different Perspective Success can bring hidden pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I don't work this hard just to be the best player. I do it to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-mcpeak/i-don-t-work-this-hard-just-to-be-the-best-player-i-do-it-to-win/) Holly McPeak > [Messi doesn't have to do it in the Premier League to prove himself. The Champions League is the ultimate club competition. If he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/messi-doesn-t-have-to-do-it-in-the-premier-league-to-prove-himself/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Messi is the best player in the world. If he's not already, he'll be the best footballer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-if-he-s-not-already-he-ll-be/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [In an ideal world, pressure should come from below and from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/in-an-ideal-world-pressure-should-come-from-below-and-from-the-top/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [After Hitler was destroyed, there was the threat of Stalin, but it was always the world pressure that was upon America that enabled black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/after-hitler-was-destroyed-there-was-the-threat-of-stalin-but-it-was/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Madrid is the biggest club in the world and the pressure there is too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-odegaard/madrid-is-the-biggest-club-in-the-world-and-the-pressure-there-is-too/) [Martin Odegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-odegaard/) > [I have not had tragic incidences in my life that have rocked my personal being. The thing that really has been my biggest enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-rolle/i-have-not-had-tragic-incidences-in-my-life-that-have-rocked-my/) [Myron Rolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-rolle/) > [LeBron James is the best player, hands down. He is easily moving into the territory of one of the best players of all time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-bryant/lebron-james-is-the-best-player-hands-down-he-is-easily-moving-into/) [Howard Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-bryant/) > [I don't care what other people say. I fight every day to be the best player I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/i-don-t-care-what-other-people-say-i-fight-every-day-to-be-the-best/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [Messi won 3 Ballons d'Or and is competing for another one. He will be the best player in the world until he retires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/messi-won-3-ballons-d-or-and-is-competing-for-another-one-he-will-be/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [I have never been concerned about winning the Ballon d'Or or being the best player in the world. The best player is already here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/i-have-never-been-concerned-about-winning-the-ballon-d-or-or-being/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [“Still, he loved her. She knew that. He loved her the best way he could. But she wasn't sure that was enough anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hood/still-he-loved-her-she-knew-that-he-loved-her-the-best-way-he-could/) [Ann Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-hood/) > [“Even those who loved you best were bound to find the flaws if they stared long enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lodato/even-those-who-loved-you-best-were-bound-to-find-the-flaws-if-they/) [Victor Lodato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lodato/) > [“Last but not least’,” he read, “‘remind Mark I loved him best and most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-a-webb/last-but-not-least-he-read-remind-mark-i-loved-him-best-and-most/) [T.A. Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-a-webb/) > [It was the time when they loved each other best, without hurry or excess, when both were most conscious of and grateful for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/it-was-the-time-when-they-loved-each-other-best-without-hurry-or/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) ## More by Stephen Hendry > [When you have a big lead, you relax and don't concentrate as much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/when-you-have-a-big-lead-you-relax-and-don-t-concentrate-as-much/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I always loved playing in front of big audiences; now I'm jittery if one person is in the room watching me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-always-loved-playing-in-front-of-big-audiences-now-i-m-jittery-if/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [When I'm practising on my own, my game feels great, but there's a big difference between practising on your own and playing against people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/when-i-m-practising-on-my-own-my-game-feels-great-but-there-s-a-big/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [Ever since I was a kid, I'd imagine that I was making a break to win the world championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-d-imagine-that-i-was-making-a-break-to-win/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [Maybe I wish I could be out there on the big occasions playing like I did at my peak, but I certainly don't miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/maybe-i-wish-i-could-be-out-there-on-the-big-occasions-playing-like-i/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I like cookery programmes: Anthony Bourdain going around the world eating stuff; Rick Stein - he's another favourite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-like-cookery-programmes-anthony-bourdain-going-around-the-world/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [The memories for the missed opportunities are stronger than for the ones I managed to get over the line in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/the-memories-for-the-missed-opportunities-are-stronger-than-for-the/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [When you get a trophy, why go jumping and crying? Winning's a great feeling, but everything else is an anti-climax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/when-you-get-a-trophy-why-go-jumping-and-crying-winning-s-a-great/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I remember far more shots that cost me matches than the ones that won me matches. That is maybe the way you think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-remember-far-more-shots-that-cost-me-matches-than-the-ones-that-won/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [There are some people who never get used to losing at anything, and I am probably one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/there-are-some-people-who-never-get-used-to-losing-at-anything-and-i/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [It is quite surreal when you go to places up the north, like Inner Mongolia, and you are getting mobbed at the airport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/it-is-quite-surreal-when-you-go-to-places-up-the-north-like-inner/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I put on the tuxedo, and it's like putting on overalls - they're my work clothes. Then I go to work. I'm relaxed. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-put-on-the-tuxedo-and-it-s-like-putting-on-overalls-they-re-my-work/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [In any sport at the top level, if you don't put in the hard work, you can be sure someone else is. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/in-any-sport-at-the-top-level-if-you-don-t-put-in-the-hard-work-you/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [It is just down to confidence. When I haven't got any, I hate playing the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/it-is-just-down-to-confidence-when-i-haven-t-got-any-i-hate-playing/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I find it very difficult when, due to a lack of confidence, I don't produce and lose matches I could have won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-find-it-very-difficult-when-due-to-a-lack-of-confidence-i-don-t/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) [Explore all 100 Stephen Hendry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) ## More Being the best quotes > [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I think my days of trying outrageous things are over. I'm not looking for trends, I just want to be the best version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-my-days-of-trying-outrageous-things-are-over-i-m-not-looking/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [Ah simple laughter that you trewing on my face. Is a simple karma that you will get for tomorrow.. Ah big clap from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leodonessiony/ah-simple-laughter-that-you-trewing-on-my-face-is-a-simple-karma-that/) [Leodonessiony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leodonessiony/) > [To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [There's no guarantee for the future; might as well be HAPPY now, and give my BEST in everything I do! In that way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/there-s-no-guarantee-for-the-future-might-as-well-be-happy-now-and/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Success lies not in the result but in the effort. BEING the Best is not at all important. DOING the Best is all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabin-shrestha/success-lies-not-in-the-result-but-in-the-effort-being-the-best-is/) [Prabin Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabin-shrestha/) > [Sometimes you choose the wrong actor, he could be the best actor ever, but hes not cast in the right part then it doesnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/sometimes-you-choose-the-wrong-actor-he-could-be-the-best-actor-ever/) [Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/) > [I am not impressed with what people own. But I’m impressed with what they achieve. I’m proud to be a physician. Always strive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/i-am-not-impressed-with-what-people-own-but-i-m-impressed-with-what/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [You have to love your country like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its mommy. And right-wing Republicans tend to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/you-have-to-love-your-country-like-an-adult-loves-somebody-not-like-a/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [My role is to think about tennis and to help Serena Williams be the best she can be and do what she wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mouratoglou/my-role-is-to-think-about-tennis-and-to-help-serena-williams-be-the/) [Patrick Mouratoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mouratoglou/) > [One of my mom's best lines is... You're not training to be the best in the world, you're training to be the best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/one-of-my-mom-s-best-lines-is-you-re-not-training-to-be-the-best-in/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We have to consider who is going to be the best prime minister to take on a "one nation" agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/we-have-to-consider-who-is-going-to-be-the-best-prime-minister-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Every day the sun rises is a new day to be your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-vargas/every-day-the-sun-rises-is-a-new-day-to-be-your-best/) [Anthony Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-vargas/) [Browse all 1,358 Being the best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I loved being the best player in the world. 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