The day when I start a race without intending to win it, I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror.
Eddy MerckxRead
I do not want to continue cycling until I am 35. I want to make something else out of my life, too. There are other things besides a bike and racing.
Interpretation
Eddy Merckx emphasizes the importance of diversifying one's life experiences beyond a single passion.
In this quote, Eddy Merckx expresses his desire to pursue a variety of interests and activities in life rather than solely focusing on cycling and racing. He recognizes that while cycling is a significant part of his life, there are other meaningful pursuits and experiences that can contribute to a fulfilling life, suggesting that personal growth and exploration are important as one ages.
In practice
During a motivational speech on life choices and passions.
The day when I start a race without intending to win it, I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror.
You had to be strong in the head... training, training and training. That is the only way, even if you have big talent.
It's not like at university where you graduate. Every cyclist must start again. At the end of the season you know if you are good or not.
Cycling is a sport of the people. How many people in the world have never been on a bike? Not many.
I have decided to give up competition. I cannot train properly for the Tour de France which I had hoped to ride for the last time as apotheosis to my career. Doctors are forbidding me to ride anymore in high level competition and I bow to them.
I was a more aggressive rider than Armstrong. I would attack more often. He waits for the other guys, then counter-attacks.
Postponing doing the really interesting things in life for later, when you don't have the energy.
In her opinion, the parrots were annoying arrogant. You could buy the most beautiful one in town, she observed, but that won't make it love you. You could feed it, care for it and exclaim over its loveliness, but there was nothing to guarantee that it would stay home with you. There had to be a lesson in there somewhere.
The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.
People who lose children have their hearts warped into weird shapes. Some try to deny it has happened. Some pretend it hasn't. Losing friends or parents is not the same. To lose a child is beyond comprehension. It defies biology. It contradicts the natural order of history and genealogy. It derails common sense. It violates time. It creates a huge, black, bottomless hole that swallows all hope.
If time were a bolt of cloth,” said Om, “I would cut out all the bad parts. Snip out the scary nights and stitch together the good parts, to make time bearable. Then I could wear it like a coat, always live happily.
The inevitable consequence of poverty is dependence.
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