--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing as a man, I had to go through…" description: "\"Growing as a man, I had to go through some stuff first. I had to figure this thing out, find out who I was as a player.\" — Vernon Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/vernon-davis-13867_figure_growing-as-a-man-i-had-to-go-through-som_2978387.png" --- # Growing as a man, I had to go through some stuff first. I… ![“Growing as a man, I had to go through some stuff first. I had to figure this thing out, find out who I was as a player.” quote by Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/vernon-davis-13867_figure_growing-as-a-man-i-had-to-go-through-som_2978387.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/vernon-davis-13867_figure_growing-as-a-man-i-had-to-go-through-som_2978387.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/vernon-davis-13867_figure_growing-as-a-man-i-had-to-go-through-som_2978387.png) > “Growing as a man, I had to go through some stuff first. I had to figure this thing out, find out who I was as a player.” [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal growth requires confronting challenges and self-discovery **In simple terms:** Growing requires facing hardships Key Takeaway Seek self-knowledge through adversity Themes personal development challenge identity Mood introspective hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - therapy - coaching - life transitions - skill building Key Concepts resilience self-discovery growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What challenge taught you most? - How do you balance growth with self-care? A Different Perspective Challenges may cause burnout if not managed ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growing Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-man/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) ## Related quotes > [I think the worst thing a player can do is just not be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/i-think-the-worst-thing-a-player-can-do-is-just-not-be-yourself/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [The progress of life shows a man the stuff of which he is made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-progress-of-life-shows-a-man-the-stuff-of-which-he-is-made/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [A real man will not take back stuff he has gives his woman after they had broken up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-nicholas/a-real-man-will-not-take-back-stuff-he-has-gives-his-woman-after-they/) [Raheem Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-nicholas/) > [The greatest scandal of the century in American psychiatry ... is the growing mania among thousands of inept therapists, family counselors, and social workers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/the-greatest-scandal-of-the-century-in-american-psychiatry-is-the/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Strive for excellence in your calling, but as a subsidiary to this: Do not fail to enrich your whole capital as man. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/strive-for-excellence-in-your-calling-but-as-a-subsidiary-to-this-do/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [ \[T\]he essence of belief is doubt, the essence of reality is questioning. The essence of Time is Flow, not Fix. The essence of faith… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wolfe/t-he-essence-of-belief-is-doubt-the-essence-of-reality-is-questioning/) [Thomas Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wolfe/) > [“We are accustomed to say in New England that few and fewer pigeons visit us every year. Our forests furnish no mast for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-accustomed-to-say-in-new-england-that-few-and-fewer-pigeons/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-the-people-understand-that-our-country-cannot-succeed-when-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What is the use of being a little boy if you are growing up to be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-use-of-being-a-little-boy-if-you-are-growing-up-to-be-a/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Douglass never made the mistake (a common one) of considering that his education was finished. He has continued to study, he studies now, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/this-ebook-features-dynamic-links-for-ease-of-navigation-plus-bonus-audiobook/douglass-never-made-the-mistake-a-common-one-of-considering-that-his/) This Ebook Features Dynamic Links for Ease of Navigation Plus Bonus Audiobook > [A boy has two jobs. One is just being a boy. The other is growing up to be a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/a-boy-has-two-jobs-one-is-just-being-a-boy-the-other-is-growing-up-to/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [To keep up with the demands of the growing manufacturing sector, our Government is pleased to invest in the establishment of the Saskatchewan Manufacturing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rempel/to-keep-up-with-the-demands-of-the-growing-manufacturing-sector-our/) [Michelle Rempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rempel/) > [Growing up, I actually wanted to be a professional Baseball player, instead of a radio DJ. Believe it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-kasem/growing-up-i-actually-wanted-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player/) [Casey Kasem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-kasem/) > [I'll keep growing as a player, keep working out, trying to become what I want to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristaps-porzingis/i-ll-keep-growing-as-a-player-keep-working-out-trying-to-become-what/) [Kristaps Porzingis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristaps-porzingis/) > [I'm not a classically trained actor, but I've been given a lot of opportunities along the way to kind of figure it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/i-m-not-a-classically-trained-actor-but-i-ve-been-given-a-lot-of/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) ## More by Vernon Davis > [The thing that made me happy is you live to see the next day and you get an opportunity to do it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/the-thing-that-made-me-happy-is-you-live-to-see-the-next-day-and-you/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [Life is all about the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/life-is-all-about-the-unexpected/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [Usually, I'll have egg whites, turkey sausage, fruit, and oatmeal for breakfast. For lunch I'll have some grilled chicken or a turkey burger with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/usually-i-ll-have-egg-whites-turkey-sausage-fruit-and-oatmeal-for/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [It's just like any athlete, we all want a new contract. But I'm not going to stress over it. It's not the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/it-s-just-like-any-athlete-we-all-want-a-new-contract-but-i-m-not/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [“I stood up to go shake hands with him and I don’t remember anything else. What I do recall is the crowd yelling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/i-stood-up-to-go-shake-hands-with-him-and-i-don-t-remember-anything/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [I became intrigued with the whole development sector, going into a community, building it up, coming up with a plan from an architectural standpoint,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/i-became-intrigued-with-the-whole-development-sector-going-into-a/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [Everything that I do, I put my teammates first. To me, that's the mark of a true leader. That's what I want to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/everything-that-i-do-i-put-my-teammates-first-to-me-that-s-the-mark/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [To recover from workouts I typically drink a 20-gram protein shake, float in the pool for 15 minutes, then do a hot-and-cold tub contrast soak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/to-recover-from-workouts-i-typically-drink-a-20-gram-protein-shake/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [I bleed red and gold. I'm all about the 49ers. I love the 49ers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/i-bleed-red-and-gold-i-m-all-about-the-49ers-i-love-the-49ers/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [“My mother—with all the embarrassment and hurt that she caused me in my youth—ended up giving me the drive and the fire I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/my-mother-with-all-the-embarrassment-and-hurt-that-she-caused-me-in/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [If you want success, you have to work hard at it and realize that it takes time; it doesn't come to you overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/if-you-want-success-you-have-to-work-hard-at-it-and-realize-that-it/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [As far as my career goes, I've never really had an opportunity to reflect on what I've done, with taking in the accolades and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/as-far-as-my-career-goes-i-ve-never-really-had-an-opportunity-to/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [I wake up each and everyday happy because of all of the great things that I have going on in my life and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/i-wake-up-each-and-everyday-happy-because-of-all-of-the-great-things/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [I don't drink alcohol at all except for special occasions. I definitely do think that it really takes a toll on your body over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/i-don-t-drink-alcohol-at-all-except-for-special-occasions-i/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [But when it comes to my career, my job, something that I love so much and something that I'm passionate about, I can't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/but-when-it-comes-to-my-career-my-job-something-that-i-love-so-much/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) [Explore all 49 Vernon Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) ## More Figure quotes > [I'm not a classically trained actor, but I've been given a lot of opportunities along the way to kind of figure it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/i-m-not-a-classically-trained-actor-but-i-ve-been-given-a-lot-of/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) > [I like to turn up my collar when I'm leaving the theatre and feel like I'm some heroic comedian figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-like-to-turn-up-my-collar-when-i-m-leaving-the-theatre-and-feel/) [Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/) > [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. Anyway, I once brought a date to the rink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-was-a-serious-competitive-figure-skater-and-still-ice-skate-as-much/) [Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/) > [Because YouTube is focused on a lot of different types of content at the same time, it has many opportunities, and the hardest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kyncl/because-youtube-is-focused-on-a-lot-of-different-types-of-content-at/) [Robert Kyncl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kyncl/) > [“Helping undo her Sieve Demi Bra and French Cut Briefs a thural wood patchouli scent spices the air as I am rendered nearly unconscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luca-evola/helping-undo-her-sieve-demi-bra-and-french-cut-briefs-a-thural-wood/) Luca Evola > [It is what it is, sometimes if you can't find what it is, just believe you will figure out what it is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/it-is-what-it-is-sometimes-if-you-can-t-find-what-it-is-just-believe/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Having children, they're not your property. They need to figure out their own views. I think my daughters have a pretty healthy self-awareness, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/having-children-they-re-not-your-property-they-need-to-figure-out/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I did a lot of struggling with my identity trying to figure out who the heck I was. I had to face my demons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carter-cash/i-did-a-lot-of-struggling-with-my-identity-trying-to-figure-out-who/) [John Carter Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carter-cash/) > [I figured my wife was about to start law school. If that whole baseball pitching thing didn't work out, I had something to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-figured-my-wife-was-about-to-start-law-school-if-that-whole/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [I just write stuff down and pile it up, and when I get enough stuff, I spread it out and look at it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/i-just-write-stuff-down-and-pile-it-up-and-when-i-get-enough-stuff-i/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [I'm a big greens fan. I'm a big vegetable fan. I'm a big whole grains fan. And I exercise a lot. That's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-m-a-big-greens-fan-i-m-a-big-vegetable-fan-i-m-a-big-whole-grains/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [I have a lot of fun working and training and learning and trying to figure out the different aspects of my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-have-a-lot-of-fun-working-and-training-and-learning-and-trying-to/) [Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/) > [Competition helps people figure it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcbride/competition-helps-people-figure-it-out/) [Brian McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcbride/) > [I never really cook from recipes. But the worst is when something turns out great and I can't figure out how to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-never-really-cook-from-recipes-but-the-worst-is-when-something/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [At a certain point, we need to figure out how to reward those who choose a path that offers, often, almost no reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/at-a-certain-point-we-need-to-figure-out-how-to-reward-those-who/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) Browse all 1,417 Figure quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Growing as a man, I had to go through some stuff first. 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