--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We kind of understand at this level of…" description: "\"We kind of understand at this level of the game when you work your way up to the top there's a possibility you may be facing somebody you've trained wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/stephen-thompson-5214_game_we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-t_231322.jpg" --- # We kind of understand at this level of the game when you… ![“We kind of understand at this level of the game when you work your way up to the top there's a possibility you may be facing somebody you've trained with before.” quote by Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/stephen-thompson-5214_game_we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-t_231322.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/stephen-thompson-5214_game_we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-t_231322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/stephen-thompson-5214_game_we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-t_231322.jpg) > “We kind of understand at this level of the game when you work your way up to the top there's a possibility you may be facing somebody you've trained with before.” [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In competitive environments, rising to the top often means confronting former teammates or mentors, highlighting the cyclical nature of growth and rivalry. **In simple terms:** Advancing can pit you against people you once learned from. Key Takeaway Expect familiar faces as rivals. Themes competition growth relationships Mood determined reflective Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - Sports tournaments - career promotions - team leadership - industry conferences Key Concepts Mentorship rivalry skill development Questions to Reflect On - How will you manage respect and rivalry? - Can past mentorship shape future competition? A Different Perspective Familiar opponents may create emotional bias or conflict of interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I've always trained hard and I've never slacked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cub-swanson/i-ve-always-trained-hard-and-i-ve-never-slacked/) [Cub Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cub-swanson/) > [The truth is I've trained myself for much of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-jr/the-truth-is-i-ve-trained-myself-for-much-of-my-career/) [Chris Eubank Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-jr/) > [I've trained all my life. I've always been one who enjoys training so it's not something that I think I can just stop doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-rooney/i-ve-trained-all-my-life-i-ve-always-been-one-who-enjoys-training-so/) [Wayne Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-rooney/) > [I've trained since I started walking, I've played sports, I've competed. I've learned how to win, even if I haven't done it as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-woodland/i-ve-trained-since-i-started-walking-i-ve-played-sports-i-ve-competed/) [Gary Woodland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-woodland/) > [I've never trained as an actor. I've always thought I'm not a good actor. I've been told I'm not a good actor by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-ve-never-trained-as-an-actor-i-ve-always-thought-i-m-not-a-good/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [In all my life, I've been trained that when there's a big problem, you run toward it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/in-all-my-life-i-ve-been-trained-that-when-there-s-a-big-problem-you/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [I've trained with real, world-class wrestlers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashad-evans/i-ve-trained-with-real-world-class-wrestlers/) [Rashad Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashad-evans/) > [I don't just rely on my right hand when I'm in the ring. That's the least thing I think about. I think about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deontay-wilder/i-don-t-just-rely-on-my-right-hand-when-i-m-in-the-ring-that-s-the/) [Deontay Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deontay-wilder/) > [I've always trained hard in the summers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-ve-always-trained-hard-in-the-summers/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [I've been trained and lived my entire life on the smallscreen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-ve-been-trained-and-lived-my-entire-life-on-the-smallscreen/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [I've always trained very hard to accomplish my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-ortiz/i-ve-always-trained-very-hard-to-accomplish-my-dream/) [Luis Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-ortiz/) > [I've trained myself not to put too much emphasis on awards, only because I never got into acting to win an award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/i-ve-trained-myself-not-to-put-too-much-emphasis-on-awards-only/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [I've trained in wing chung, jeet kune do, I've indulged in many arts that people would not have thought I have trained in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mir/i-ve-trained-in-wing-chung-jeet-kune-do-i-ve-indulged-in-many-arts/) [Frank Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mir/) > [You know, I've trained with a lot of great guys that have been in the sport for so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/you-know-i-ve-trained-with-a-lot-of-great-guys-that-have-been-in-the/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [I've been trained by a two-time world champion kickboxer, who's local to where I come from, and who is really just there to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-bew/i-ve-been-trained-by-a-two-time-world-champion-kickboxer-who-s-local/) [Kieran Bew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kieran-bew/) ## More by Stephen Thompson > [I understand it's part of the sport, part of the game to have people who like you and people who don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-understand-it-s-part-of-the-sport-part-of-the-game-to-have-people/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [Everybody asks me, 'Hey, what's your most memorable fight?' For me, it's definitely the Matt Brown fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/everybody-asks-me-hey-what-s-your-most-memorable-fight-for-me-it-s/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [To be honest with you, Conor McGregor at 170, I think he's just going to be thrown around like a little rag doll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/to-be-honest-with-you-conor-mcgregor-at-170-i-think-he-s-just-going/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I know that pretty much everybody I face is going to wind up wanting to take me down eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-know-that-pretty-much-everybody-i-face-is-going-to-wind-up-wanting/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I rage playing video games. I think that's the only time you will ever hear me say a cuss word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-rage-playing-video-games-i-think-that-s-the-only-time-you-will-ever/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I was like 'You know what? I'm training with these champions. Guys like Georges St-Pierre, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt... Let me give this MMA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-was-like-you-know-what-i-m-training-with-these-champions-guys-like/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I learned a lot during the Matt Brown fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-learned-a-lot-during-the-matt-brown-fight/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [I'm a striker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-m-a-striker/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [In kickboxing, if I walked around at 185 pounds, I fought at 185 pounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/in-kickboxing-if-i-walked-around-at-185-pounds-i-fought-at-185-pounds/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [When you're out there in the octagon and you've got thousands of people, millions across the world, either cheering for you to win or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/when-you-re-out-there-in-the-octagon-and-you-ve-got-thousands-of/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [You gotta be ready in this game. Like when Michael Bisping knocked out Luke Rockhold. I thought... everybody thought that Luke Rockhold would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/you-gotta-be-ready-in-this-game-like-when-michael-bisping-knocked-out/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [Ben Askren, he's a tough boy. Golly, he's a tough boy. That's what wrestling does. When you wrestle your whole life, you got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/ben-askren-he-s-a-tough-boy-golly-he-s-a-tough-boy-that-s-what/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [People always ask me what will happen if I lose, and I never really thought about it until they asked me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/people-always-ask-me-what-will-happen-if-i-lose-and-i-never-really/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [As a fighter my goal is not to get hit and frustrate my opponent. Once I get you frustrated then I got you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/as-a-fighter-my-goal-is-not-to-get-hit-and-frustrate-my-opponent-once/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [Whenever I fight, whenever you see me fight, I work a lot off of angles, using my kicks a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/whenever-i-fight-whenever-you-see-me-fight-i-work-a-lot-off-of-angles/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) [Explore all 102 Stephen Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) ## More Game quotes > [Raised by game where niggas ain't phased by fame. Come to the crib, get banged, they take your chain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/raised-by-game-where-niggas-ain-t-phased-by-fame-come-to-the-crib-get/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [I've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [I've always been very hard on myself, and I never want to get to a point where I'm like, 'Alright, I'm kicking butt,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/i-ve-always-been-very-hard-on-myself-and-i-never-want-to-get-to-a/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Often in my game as an actor, someone else pays for your travel and there's nothing like being able to lie flat on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/often-in-my-game-as-an-actor-someone-else-pays-for-your-travel-and/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [With the Capital One Bowl, the average fan might think whoopty do. But if you are a team member, you win that game and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/with-the-capital-one-bowl-the-average-fan-might-think-whoopty-do-but/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [I remember throughout middle school and high school how excited my mom, sister and I would be when a UNC game was on TV.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-remember-throughout-middle-school-and-high-school-how-excited-my/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Obviously, I want to win, but at the same time, at the end of the day, it's a game and that's what I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/obviously-i-want-to-win-but-at-the-same-time-at-the-end-of-the-day-it/) [Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/) > [It's more than a game. It's an institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hughes/it-s-more-than-a-game-it-s-an-institution/) [Thomas Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hughes/) > [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/) [Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/) [Browse all 13,309 Game quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We kind of understand at this level of the game when you work your way up to the top there's a possibility you may be facing somebody you've trained with before.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Thompson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-the-game-when-you-work-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Game" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-the-game-when-you-work-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/stephen-thompson-5214_game_we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-t_231322.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/stephen-thompson-5214_game_we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-t_231322.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/stephen-thompson-5214_game_we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-t_231322.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We kind of understand at this level of the game when you work your way up to the top there's a possibility…” — Stephen Thompson", "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": "Stephen Thompson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We kind of understand at this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-the-game-when-you-work-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/we-kind-of-understand-at-this-level-of-the-game-when-you-work-your/#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 } } ] } ```