--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes it can feel like there are a…" description: "\"Sometimes it can feel like there are a billion people on my shoulders.\" — Yao Ming" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/yao-ming-13790_basketball_sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-b_2301615.jpg" --- # Sometimes it can feel like there are a billion people on… ![“Sometimes it can feel like there are a billion people on my shoulders.” quote by Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/yao-ming-13790_basketball_sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-b_2301615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/yao-ming-13790_basketball_sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-b_2301615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/yao-ming-13790_basketball_sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-b_2301615.jpg) > “Sometimes it can feel like there are a billion people on my shoulders.” [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities and expectations from many sources. **In simple terms:** Feeling burdened by many expectations. Key Takeaway Prioritize and delegate to reduce pressure. Themes responsibility stress expectations Mood anxious reflective Type motivational advice When to use this quote - workplace - family - public life - personal goals Key Concepts mental load social pressure Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities can you delegate? - How can you set boundaries? A Different Perspective Ignoring delegation can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The owner of Spotify is worth something like 3 billion dollars ... he's richer than Paul McCartney and he's 30 and he's never written a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-carney/the-owner-of-spotify-is-worth-something-like-3-billion-dollars-he-s/) [Patrick Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-carney/) > [I got a lot of people on my shoulders, but I'm human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/i-got-a-lot-of-people-on-my-shoulders-but-i-m-human/) [Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/) > [I stood on people's shoulders, so I want to be there for somebody else to take it even further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/i-stood-on-people-s-shoulders-so-i-want-to-be-there-for-somebody-else/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [Don't look over people's shoulders. Look in their eyes. Don't talk at your children. Take their faces in your hands and talk to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/don-t-look-over-people-s-shoulders-look-in-their-eyes-don-t-talk-at/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [If I ever write a story of my life, don't be surprised when your names appear like a billion trillion times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-h/if-i-ever-write-a-story-of-my-life-don-t-be-surprised-when-your-names/) [Miranda H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-h/) > [A Friend like you is one in a Billion; So always take care of yourself coz I ain't in a mood to search another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norden/a-friend-like-you-is-one-in-a-billion-so-always-take-care-of-yourself/) [Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norden/) > [The president of the United States, the most famous person in the world, maybe in the whole galaxy - in a long time -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/the-president-of-the-united-states-the-most-famous-person-in-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The billion people who wake up every day trying to figure out if they have enough food to eat won't be at Davos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-billion-people-who-wake-up-every-day-trying-to-figure-out-if-they/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [When I was born, the world's population was 3.5 billion. There are now 6.8 billion people on the planet. By 2050, that's expected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-was-born-the-world-s-population-was-3-5-billion-there-are-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well it did not make excessive sense to say that 20 million people are the recognized government of a billion people that have their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/well-it-did-not-make-excessive-sense-to-say-that-20-million-people/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [With an estimated population of nine billion people by 2050, we cannot continue to consume resources at the same rate and maintain our quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/with-an-estimated-population-of-nine-billion-people-by-2050-we-cannot/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Another way to think of this is there are now 6.8 billion people on this planet, and half of them weren't even born when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/another-way-to-think-of-this-is-there-are-now-6-8-billion-people-on/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [There are 6 billion people in the world. It's hard to find the one person who's right for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-caan/there-are-6-billion-people-in-the-world-it-s-hard-to-find-the-one/) [Scott Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-caan/) > [In the EU you have half a billion people who share a common belief in democracy, in rights, in the kind of economic life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ashton/in-the-eu-you-have-half-a-billion-people-who-share-a-common-belief-in/) [Catherine Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ashton/) > [We have six-and-a-half-billion people on the planet, going rapidly towards seven. We're going to need a lot of inventiveness about how we use water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-fedoroff/we-have-six-and-a-half-billion-people-on-the-planet-going-rapidly/) [Nina Fedoroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-fedoroff/) ## More by Yao Ming > [There is a phrase in Chinese, 'Resolve is victory.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/there-is-a-phrase-in-chinese-resolve-is-victory/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Every sound in the gym is so fantastic. The screams of the fans, the whistle of the ref, the teammates calling to each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/every-sound-in-the-gym-is-so-fantastic-the-screams-of-the-fans-the/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [The Olympic Games is holy. Athletes from around the world, including myself, of course, dream to participate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/the-olympic-games-is-holy-athletes-from-around-the-world-including/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Others are improving very fast, and I'm not improving as fast, and that bothers me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/others-are-improving-very-fast-and-i-m-not-improving-as-fast-and-that/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Is there a choice in life? It's always been like this. I am jealous that you have a lot of leisure and free time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/is-there-a-choice-in-life-it-s-always-been-like-this-i-am-jealous/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Embarrassed journalists ask me embarrassing questions, and they get embarrassing answers, and then hand out embarrassing stories to the embarrassing editors, who put them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/embarrassed-journalists-ask-me-embarrassing-questions-and-they-get/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [I don't really have anything to say. Basketball is not a game that you can play with your mouth. It needs action to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-don-t-really-have-anything-to-say-basketball-is-not-a-game-that-you/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Fortune cookies are a good idea. If the message is positive, it can make your day a little better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/fortune-cookies-are-a-good-idea-if-the-message-is-positive-it-can/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Hometown is like my quilts. Sometimes when you are in sweet dreams, you don't feel it's comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/hometown-is-like-my-quilts-sometimes-when-you-are-in-sweet-dreams-you/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [I only want to play basketball, and play it well and be happy about it. But I realize that with being famous, comes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-only-want-to-play-basketball-and-play-it-well-and-be-happy-about-it/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [I am a basketball player, and I would like to focus my energy on basketball. The other things, I would rather not do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-am-a-basketball-player-and-i-would-like-to-focus-my-energy-on/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [First of all, I'm not buff enough. I got pushed away from the basket. And even when I didn't, I couldn't get anyone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/first-of-all-i-m-not-buff-enough-i-got-pushed-away-from-the-basket/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [I think I am upsetting the coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-think-i-am-upsetting-the-coach/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [No matter whether you are new or an old team member, you need time to adjust to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/no-matter-whether-you-are-new-or-an-old-team-member-you-need-time-to/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [When I was young, we were taught not to dunk. We were taght not to stand out from the rest of the team. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/when-i-was-young-we-were-taught-not-to-dunk-we-were-taght-not-to/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) [Explore all 49 Yao Ming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes it can feel like there are a billion people on my shoulders.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yao Ming" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-billion-people-on-my-shoulders/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-billion-people-on-my-shoulders/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/yao-ming-13790_basketball_sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-b_2301615.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/yao-ming-13790_basketball_sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-b_2301615.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/yao-ming-13790_basketball_sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-b_2301615.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes it can feel like there are a billion people on my shoulders.” — Yao Ming", "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": "Yao Ming", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes it can feel like there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-billion-people-on-my-shoulders/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/sometimes-it-can-feel-like-there-are-a-billion-people-on-my-shoulders/#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 } } ] } ```