I was never coached; I was never told how to hold a bat.
Donald BradmanRead
About the last thing I ever wanted in life was a knighthood, and even today some forty years after the event, I find it difficult to come to terms with a life where old and valued friends insist on calling me 'Sir' instead of Don, simply because they think it is protocol. But I have consciously shouldered these burdens because I felt that I was the medium through which cricket could achieve a higher status and gain maximum support from the people, not only in Australia but throughout the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Donald Bradman expresses his reluctance to accept a title of knighthood, prioritizing his contributions to cricket over personal accolades.
In this quote, Donald Bradman reflects on his discomfort with the title of 'Sir' that comes with knighthood, indicating that his true passion lies in his role as an ambassador for cricket. He feels a sense of duty to elevate the status of the sport and garner support from fans worldwide, suggesting that personal recognition is secondary to the greater goal of promoting the game he loves.
Themes
KnighthoodCricketServiceAmbassadorAccoladesDuty
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech at a sports award ceremony to emphasize the importance of contributing to the community over seeking personal recognition.
More from Donald Bradman
All quotes →Reading poetry and watching cricket were the sum of my world, and the two are not so far apart as many aesthetes might believe.
Donald BradmanRead
The game of cricket existed long before I was born. It will be played centuries after my demise. During my career I was privileged to give the public my interpretation of its character in the same way that a pianist might interpret the works of Beethoven.
Donald BradmanRead
Similar quotes
One of the characteristics of successful scientists is having courage. Once you get your courage up and believe that you can do important problems, then you can. If you think you can't, almost surely you are not going to.
Richard HammingRead
There's a plaque on our wall that says we've sold over 65 million albums, and I don't feel I've accomplished anything. I feel like I'm just getting started.
Eddie Van HalenRead
If you can count your money, you don't have a billion dollars.
J. Paul GettyRead
Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do best.
Marva CollinsRead
The fact that my 15 minutes of fame has extended a little longer than 15 minutes is somewhat surprising to me and completely baffling to my wife.
Barack ObamaRead
There's this little box that African-American actors have to work in, in the first place, and I was able to rise above that box. I could have done a bunch of movies where I stayed as the Axel Foley or Reggie Hammond persona. But I didn't want to be doing the same thing all the time. Every now and then, you crash and burn, but that's part of it.
Eddie MurphyRead