--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A little-known secret is that being a pro…" description: "\"A little-known secret is that being a pro athlete is not that great. It's a pretty short lifespan. I know all these parents are out there driving their..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/timothy-olyphant-10280_children_a-little-known-secret-is-that-being-a-pr_908515.jpg" --- # A little-known secret is that being a pro athlete is not… ![“A little-known secret is that being a pro athlete is not that great. It's a pretty short lifespan. I know all these parents are out there driving their children to be professionals, but so many pros will tell you, 'No, you don't want to do this.'” quote by Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/timothy-olyphant-10280_children_a-little-known-secret-is-that-being-a-pr_908515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/timothy-olyphant-10280_children_a-little-known-secret-is-that-being-a-pr_908515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/timothy-olyphant-10280_children_a-little-known-secret-is-that-being-a-pr_908515.jpg) > “A little-known secret is that being a pro athlete is not that great. It's a pretty short lifespan. I know all these parents are out there driving their children to be professionals, but so many pros will tell you, 'No, you don't want to do this.'” [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professional sports careers are short and demanding; many parents push children toward them despite risks. **In simple terms:** Pro sports are fleeting and risky. Key Takeaway Consider long‑term wellbeing. Themes sports career health risks Mood cautionary thoughtful Type analytical critical When to use this quote - career counseling - health education - family decision‑making Key Concepts physiology parenting pressure Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives exist to children? - How can we support athletes after retirement? A Different Perspective Athletes can achieve lasting impact beyond sport. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Pro athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-athlete/) [Short life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-life/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Putting is so difficult, so universally vexing, that the best the pros can do is tell us how to miss. 'Miss it on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/putting-is-so-difficult-so-universally-vexing-that-the-best-the-pros/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [Oscar Pistorius is on the cusp of a paradigm shift in which disability becomes ability, disadvantage becomes advantage. Yet we mustn't lose sight of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-pistorius/oscar-pistorius-is-on-the-cusp-of-a-paradigm-shift-in-which/) [Oscar Pistorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-pistorius/) > [I used to love to see Willie Pep and Ray Robinson. To me, the epitome of a great athlete is a great boxer. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-steward/i-used-to-love-to-see-willie-pep-and-ray-robinson-to-me-the-epitome/) [Emanuel Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-steward/) > [When I found Jesus Christ, I learned to be a better athlete. I didn't have to go out there and knock them out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/when-i-found-jesus-christ-i-learned-to-be-a-better-athlete-i-didn-t/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [Anytime you have anybody that's physically a great athlete and a great specimen, they have the work ethic. They know how to work, know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/anytime-you-have-anybody-that-s-physically-a-great-athlete-and-a/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [I don't care what anybody says: a pro athlete is going to be a role model. I tried to use that as a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clyde-drexler/i-don-t-care-what-anybody-says-a-pro-athlete-is-going-to-be-a-role/) [Clyde Drexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clyde-drexler/) > [So many people get caught up in being a pro athlete and think they are better. I don't feel like I've ever changed or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-palmer/so-many-people-get-caught-up-in-being-a-pro-athlete-and-think-they/) [Carson Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-palmer/) > [“As I write this, I’m sitting in a café in Paris overlooking the Luxembourg Garden, just off of Rue Saint-Jacques. Rue Saint-Jacques is likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/as-i-write-this-i-m-sitting-in-a-caf-in-paris-overlooking-the/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [There's not a lot of pro athletes that come from where I'm from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/there-s-not-a-lot-of-pro-athletes-that-come-from-where-i-m-from/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [Being a pro athlete doesn't mean you treat your body right, even though it's so important to what you do. Being a runner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/being-a-pro-athlete-doesn-t-mean-you-treat-your-body-right-even/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [I train like a pro-athlete, not like an actor who's just trying to look pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-train-like-a-pro-athlete-not-like-an-actor-who-s-just-trying-to/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [Obviously, not many people get to be pro athletes and hopefully make it in their sport. So I'm just lucky enough to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/obviously-not-many-people-get-to-be-pro-athletes-and-hopefully-make/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [Most pro athletes are super competitive, super clutch, and they don't want to lose at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hellmuth/most-pro-athletes-are-super-competitive-super-clutch-and-they-don-t/) [Phil Hellmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hellmuth/) > [Every action has a consequence. It may be good for strengthening. And I have no doubt that lifting a lot of weights can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/every-action-has-a-consequence-it-may-be-good-for-strengthening-and-i/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [I think there's nothing sadder than a pro athlete who plays past his prime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-samuels/i-think-there-s-nothing-sadder-than-a-pro-athlete-who-plays-past-his/) [Lynn Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-samuels/) ## More by Timothy Olyphant > [I'll admit a little something: If I go to one of those hotels where there's, like, a $50 omelet, I'm taking the silverware home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-ll-admit-a-little-something-if-i-go-to-one-of-those-hotels-where/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [A rice cooker has changed my life. The overnight-oatmeal deal is a big win at the Olyphant house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/a-rice-cooker-has-changed-my-life-the-overnight-oatmeal-deal-is-a-big/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [I'm in show business, and we have a long history here of making movies about law enforcement officers. If you're my age, and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-m-in-show-business-and-we-have-a-long-history-here-of-making-movies/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [Kids on the set tend to be a pain, and if they're not, their parents are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/kids-on-the-set-tend-to-be-a-pain-and-if-they-re-not-their-parents-are/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [I know the difference between someone coming up to you on the street and saying, 'Hey, you're that dude, right. Yes, that's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-know-the-difference-between-someone-coming-up-to-you-on-the-street/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [It's easy to be quick on the draw when no one has got real bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/it-s-easy-to-be-quick-on-the-draw-when-no-one-has-got-real-bullets/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [You know, what a producer does is one of the great mysteries in life, so anyone can be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/you-know-what-a-producer-does-is-one-of-the-great-mysteries-in-life/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [It's very rare that you can be in a career for as long as I have and still feel like you're constantly learning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/it-s-very-rare-that-you-can-be-in-a-career-for-as-long-as-i-have-and/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [It's always fun to play cops and robbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/it-s-always-fun-to-play-cops-and-robbers/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [I remember years ago being on the set of 'Dreamcatcher' and not only did I have such great admiration for Morgan Freeman and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-remember-years-ago-being-on-the-set-of-dreamcatcher-and-not-only/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [I can't get enough of 'Pulp Fiction.' I just love it; it still holds up. And it didn't win Best Picture, by the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-can-t-get-enough-of-pulp-fiction-i-just-love-it-it-still-holds-up/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [There's so many great Western films. Let's see, 'Red River,' any of those Henry Fonda movies are fantastic. Any of those John Ford movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/there-s-so-many-great-western-films-let-s-see-red-river-any-of-those/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [You're never quite sure, when you first get something if you really have a sense of what an opportunity it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/you-re-never-quite-sure-when-you-first-get-something-if-you-really/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [I didn't inherit any great success and the problems that came with it, and yet I was able to keep working and supporting myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-didn-t-inherit-any-great-success-and-the-problems-that-came-with-it/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [I'm attracted to roles that are unpredictable, and if I can get my hands on something like that, I'm thrilled. I like performances where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-m-attracted-to-roles-that-are-unpredictable-and-if-i-can-get-my/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) [Explore all 66 Timothy Olyphant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A little-known secret is that being a pro athlete is not that great. It's a pretty short lifespan. 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