--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody dismissed athletes as being…" description: "\"Everybody dismissed athletes as being purely physical, but when you retire, you go from such an intense brain time - study of defense, audibles, hand s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/thomas-jones-24526_active_everybody-dismissed-athletes-as-being-pu_875632.png" --- # Everybody dismissed athletes as being purely physical, but… ![“Everybody dismissed athletes as being purely physical, but when you retire, you go from such an intense brain time - study of defense, audibles, hand signals, plays, adjustments - to a level of mental inactivity that's hard to comprehend. It's a big reason why I stay so active. Creating, evolving.” quote by Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/thomas-jones-24526_active_everybody-dismissed-athletes-as-being-pu_875632.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/thomas-jones-24526_active_everybody-dismissed-athletes-as-being-pu_875632.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da8/thomas-jones-24526_active_everybody-dismissed-athletes-as-being-pu_875632.png) > “Everybody dismissed athletes as being purely physical, but when you retire, you go from such an intense brain time - study of defense, audibles, hand signals, plays, adjustments - to a level of mental inactivity that's hard to comprehend. It's a big reason why I stay so active. Creating, evolving.” [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Athletes face a sharp drop in mental engagement after retiring, prompting the need for active mental pursuits to maintain cognitive health. **In simple terms:** Retirement can cause mental inactivity, so stay mentally active. Key Takeaway Engage in creative and learning activities after retirement. Themes mental health retirement cognitive engagement Mood reflective motivated Type advice insightful When to use this quote - post‑career planning - hobby development - volunteering - education courses Key Concepts neuroplasticity identity transition lifelong learning Questions to Reflect On - How can retirees design a routine that balances physical and mental stimulation? - What activities best replace the strategic thinking of sports? A Different Perspective Physical fitness alone may not fully protect against cognitive decline; mental activity must be intentional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Inactivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inactivity/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Signals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signals/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Stay Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-active/) ## Related quotes > [I try to eat healthy and stay active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-bidot/i-try-to-eat-healthy-and-stay-active/) [Denise Bidot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-bidot/) > [I work out, and I try to stay active and fit so I can enjoy certain foods that I like to eat. I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-mathison/i-work-out-and-i-try-to-stay-active-and-fit-so-i-can-enjoy-certain/) [Cameron Mathison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-mathison/) > [I'm always looking for inspiring ways to stay motivated and stay active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/i-m-always-looking-for-inspiring-ways-to-stay-motivated-and-stay/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [Men should stay active and healthy, and even when they aren't active, active wear is so comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-sampson/men-should-stay-active-and-healthy-and-even-when-they-aren-t-active/) [Kendrick Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-sampson/) > [I would love to pretend I don't diet, but I work very hard. I stay active and eat very healthy. Anybody who says otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-would-love-to-pretend-i-don-t-diet-but-i-work-very-hard-i-stay/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I think it's really important to stay active, even when you're very busy. I know it can get hectic and hard to find time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennette-mccurdy/i-think-it-s-really-important-to-stay-active-even-when-you-re-very/) [Jennette McCurdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennette-mccurdy/) > [Stay alive, stay active, and get as much practice as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/stay-alive-stay-active-and-get-as-much-practice-as-you-can/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [This is not my last fight. I want to stay active in the sport of boxingI could have ten more fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather/this-is-not-my-last-fight-i-want-to-stay-active-in-the-sport-of/) [Floyd Mayweather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather/) > [That to be an activist, you have to stay active. For me, it's profound; it's not something you choose to do every five years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-abdulmajid/that-to-be-an-activist-you-have-to-stay-active-for-me-it-s-profound/) [Iman Abdulmajid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-abdulmajid/) > [I definitely like to stay active. Im a huge fan of the NBA and the sport of basketball. I love to play pick-up games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-dooling/i-definitely-like-to-stay-active-im-a-huge-fan-of-the-nba-and-the/) [Brendan Dooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-dooling/) > [I just love challenges and as an athlete, we have a short window in all this. So I want to fight, I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-pennington/i-just-love-challenges-and-as-an-athlete-we-have-a-short-window-in/) [Raquel Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-pennington/) > [As far as physical health goes, I try to eat in a balanced way, sleep enough, and stay active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-canals-barrera/as-far-as-physical-health-goes-i-try-to-eat-in-a-balanced-way-sleep/) [Maria Canals Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-canals-barrera/) > [I like to stay active. I'm one of the champions chasing the contenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/i-like-to-stay-active-i-m-one-of-the-champions-chasing-the-contenders/) [Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/) > [I stay active and choose to associate myself with like-minded people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-t-austin/i-stay-active-and-choose-to-associate-myself-with-like-minded-people/) [Jake T. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-t-austin/) > [Stay active. Read the Word. Worship with other believers. Continue to give. Keep learning and growing. Your faith will be unleashed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/stay-active-read-the-word-worship-with-other-believers-continue-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by Thomas Jones > [No one had ever made it big from my town until I was able to make it to the NFL and now the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/no-one-had-ever-made-it-big-from-my-town-until-i-was-able-to-make-it/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [I had a great family. My father was in the Air Force, so we were always disciplined, goal oriented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/i-had-a-great-family-my-father-was-in-the-air-force-so-we-were-always/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [When I'm 75 years old, I want to say that I chased my dream. I didn't let other people's opinions dictate what I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/when-i-m-75-years-old-i-want-to-say-that-i-chased-my-dream-i-didn-t/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [Football was everything to me. There was the physical aspect, sure. I did pushups and sit-ups every night, even as a kid. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/football-was-everything-to-me-there-was-the-physical-aspect-sure-i/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [Friends may come and go, but barbecues accumulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/friends-may-come-and-go-but-barbecues-accumulate/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [Many do with opportunities as children do at the seashore; they fill their little hands with sand, and then let the grains fall through,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/many-do-with-opportunities-as-children-do-at-the-seashore-they-fill/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [When you see a black guy on TV, he's always a thug or always portrayed as someone that's in trouble. It spreads the message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/when-you-see-a-black-guy-on-tv-he-s-always-a-thug-or-always-portrayed/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [You know you no where near me so that line you can step back in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/you-know-you-no-where-near-me-so-that-line-you-can-step-back-in/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [My inspiration is my hometown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/my-inspiration-is-my-hometown/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [There are a lot of black men doing really well, taking care of their families, taking care of their wives, being successful, doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/there-are-a-lot-of-black-men-doing-really-well-taking-care-of-their/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [I feel like there's no such thing as failure. 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I feel that because I'm representing my very overlooked region of Virginia, I have to keep accomplishing my goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/my-inspiration-is-my-hometown-i-feel-that-because-i-m-representing-my/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [The common perception is it only happens to people who aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/the-common-perception-is-it-only-happens-to-people-who-aren-t-paying/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) [Explore all 24 Thomas Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. 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Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. 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That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/) [Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/) Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everybody dismissed athletes as being purely physical, but when you retire, you go from such an intense brain time - study of defense, audibles, hand signals, plays, adjustments - to a level of mental inactivity that's hard to comprehend. It's a big reason why I stay so active. 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