David Beckham quotes: English retired pro footballer and businessman shares insight on hard work, discipline, realizing your worth, succeeding, family, and more.
“I have always believed that if you want to achieve anything special in life you have to work, work, and then work some more.”
“You can be the one-in-a-million. Don’t be discouraged by the odds to succeed.”
“Success begins with a state of mind; if you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.”
“You have to overvalue yourself sometimes. Know your worth and add tax to it.”
“The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them.”
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
“To work hard and never give up. This is a piece of advice that was given to me when I was younger that has really stuck with me. I also think it is important to have fun and enjoy what you do.”
“Work hard to get good, then work harder to get better.”
“Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret.”
“You will go through tough times, it’s about getting through them.”
“That was my way of getting through difficult times of low confidence – hard work.”
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing.”
“There are certain battles that you pick. When they’re not worth picking, they’re laughable stories.”
“I’ve always come back from adversity, and I’ve always had the mentality of proving people wrong.”
“Always have something to look forward to. Whatever it is. If you don’t have that, you lose interest, you become stale.”
“I’m a very stubborn person. I think it has helped me over my career. I’m sure it has hindered me at times as well, but not too many times. I know that if I set my mind to do something, even if people are saying I can’t do it, I will achieve it.”
“People react to criticism in different ways, and my way is definitely to come out fighting.”
“I think it’s important to always look after yourself whatever your age.”
“My parents have always been there for me, ever since I was about seven.”
“I wouldn’t have achieved what I have done today without my family. I’m grateful for my parents’ sacrifice, which made me realize my dreams.”
“Sport is a language that everybody speaks, and it can be used to change lives. It’s more than keeping fit, it’s about respect, team building, trust, and confidence.”
“When I was seven I wanted to be a footballer, but when I was 14, I wanted to be a model. Look where it’s put me now!”
“Every situation has changed me as a person.”
“I’ve never seen myself as a celebrity, but I see it in a positive way, the fact that people are still interested in most parts of my life.”
“I just want people to see me as a hard-working footballer and someone who is passionate about the game.”
“I never do anything half-heartedly. I will continue to work hard and play hard and do everything I can to be successful, whatever I do.”
“The secret to my success is practice!”
“I don’t have time for hobbies. At the end of the day, I treat my job as a hobby. It’s something I love doing.”
“Meeting Mandela was the highlight of my career; to meet such a great man and a strong man and such a passionate man about sport and life will always stay with me.”
“It’s so important to have manners and treat people from all walks of life the way they should be treated.”
“My parents were always very strict, and they gave me the right beliefs in how to treat people. It was very strict and all about morals. I try to pass that on to my own children.”
“I’m a strong person, I’m a strong family man, I’m a strong husband, and a strong father.”
“In my career there’s many things I’ve won and many things I’ve achieved. But my greatest achievement is my family. What matters is being a good father and a good husband – just being connected to family as much as possible. Being a dad is more important than football, more important than anything. I adore children. I love the fact our children are part of both of us. It’s one of the most amazing things ever.”
“My priority is always the family and Victoria [Beckham] and I always ensure we are there for our children. We work hard but family comes first.”
“When you have kids, you do grow up. I have just started realizing it now – it changes the world, having children.”
“I love little kids looking up to me, young players looking up to me, respecting me.”
“Being hardworking is the best thing you can show children.”
“At the end of the day, I’m a footballer who has played at some of the biggest football clubs in the world and played with some of the best players in the world.”
“Throughout my career I have been pretty successful, I’ve played for some pretty big teams, represented my country quite a few times, and played for managers without sentiment.”
“I would never complain about the position I’m in or the attention I get. At the end of the day, I’m very lucky to have what I have and do what I do, but I don’t see myself as any different from anyone else who works hard and is a dad and a husband.”
“Whatever I do, I want to be the best.”
“The buzz is still with me. I get goose bumps.”
“I am happier now than I have ever been.”
“I’m fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it’s my time to give back.”
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