The road to the Olympics, leads to no city, no country. It goes far beyond New York or Moscow, ancient Greece or Nazi Germany. The road to the Olympics leads — in the end — to the best within us.
Jesse OwensRead
The only victory that counts is the one over yourself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True success comes from overcoming your own limitations.
This quote emphasizes the importance of self-mastery and personal growth as the ultimate measure of victory. It suggests that external achievements are meaningless if one has not conquered their own fears, doubts, and weaknesses, highlighting the journey of self-improvement as the most significant triumph one can achieve.
Themes
VictorySelfOvercomeMotivationPersonal Growth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote would be perfect as a closing thought during a motivational speech on self-improvement.
More from Jesse Owens
All quotes →If you don't try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody's back yard. The thrill of competing carries with it the thrill of a gold medal. One wants to win to prove himself the best.
Jesse OwensRead
A lifetime of training for just ten seconds.
Jesse OwensRead
In the end, it's extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more that that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don't win, how can you lose?
Jesse OwensRead
When I came back, after all those stories about Hitler and his snub, I came back to my native country, and I could not ride in the front of the bus. I had to go to the back door. I couldn't live where I wanted. Now what's the difference?
Jesse OwensRead
I wanted no part of politics. And I wasn't in Berlin to compete against any one athlete. The purpose of the Olympics, anyway, was to do your best. As I'd learned long ago from Charles Riley, the only victory that counts is the one over yourself.
Jesse OwensRead
Similar quotes
This is what I learned at the hospital. You have to do everything you can, you have to work your hardest, and if you do, if you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining.
Bradley CooperRead
You and you alone are the only person that can live the life that writes the story that you were meant to tell. And the world needs your story because the world needs your voice.
Kerry WashingtonRead
I trained for less than three-quarters of an hour, maybe five days a week - I didn't have time to do more. But it was all about quality, not quantity - so I didn't waste time jogging, ever.
Roger BannisterRead
I put myself in the way of things happening, and they happened.
Theodore RooseveltRead
Your attitude determines your actions, and your actions determine your accomplishment.
John C. MaxwellRead
Play to your strengths." "I haven’t got any," said Harry, before he could stop himself. "Excuse me," growled Moody, "you’ve got strengths if I say you’ve got them. Think now. What are you best at?
J. K. RowlingRead