Playing tennis, I didn't tie in my self-worth into winning or losing matches.
Martina NavratilovaRead
I just wanted to play tennis. It wasn't a job. It was an ambition. I knew I could make money at it. I was 18 - old enough to think I could do it, young enough not to consider the consequences.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the passion for pursuing a dream without the burden of considering potential setbacks.
In this quote, Martina Navratilova emphasizes the purity of her initial motivation for playing tennis, which stemmed from a genuine love for the sport rather than financial gain. At 18, she possessed the youthful audacity to believe in her potential without the weight of adult concerns, illustrating how ambition can drive individuals toward success when fueled by passion and a sense of possibility.
Themes
TennisAmbitionPassionSuccessYouth
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about following one's dreams, this quote can inspire young athletes.
More from Martina Navratilova
All quotes →To those people doubting Serena Williams, writing her off - do not do that to a champion.
Martina NavratilovaRead
I can teach many sports, but obviously, tennis is the one. When you do other sports, you see things from different perspectives: different footwork drills, body positions, angles and geometry. All that stuff is helpful, and so when I do other sports, I can see things, because once you know one sport, then the other sport becomes more clear.
Martina NavratilovaRead
So many athletes are afraid to use their platform to do the right thing and speak what they feel, and that's very depressing. Sure, they are afraid of insulting people and losing money because of it, and everyone wants to make the maximum amount of money in their lifetime. But at the expense of who you are? I don't know. That just wasn't in my DNA.
Martina NavratilovaRead
I am just sorry my own mother had to live under that regime for most of her life. I was lucky. I got out and, 14 years later, Czechoslovakia became a free country. So I feel anger, even fury, at this bloody system that ruined so many people's lives for no reason whatsoever.
Martina NavratilovaRead
When you make a lot of money, it just means you made a lot of money. It doesn't make you a better person.
Martina NavratilovaRead
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