Emil Zatopek Quotes

People may say I developed an iron will, but what really happened is that I made myself much fitter. I think an iron will is always supported by fitness.

I loved the feeling of freedom in running, the fresh air, the feeling that the only person I'm competing with is me.

I'm forever testing myself. As a person and as an actor, I have no sense of competition.

In order to change the world, you have to get your head together first.

My clients train hard. They don't scream or throw weights - they just push hard, trying to get more out of themselves than their bodies want to give, trying to walk that terrible, beautiful line between controlled aggression and all-out insanity.

I'm excited by challenging myself physically and mentally every day.

Even though running is work for me, I always miss it if I take a break. A lot of people find running relaxing, but I can never switch off from timing and competing against myself.

You are always training yourself to be, mind and body, as clear as crystal, and you always are, and never change; whereas I am a muddy, solitary, moping weed.

I always focus on myself in what I want, where I want to go, who I want to reach, which message I want to put out, how I want to dress.

I continuously go further and further learning about my own limitations, my body limitation, psychological limitations. It's a way of life for me.

I'm in control of what I'm doing physically and mentally. I feel good. I've always felt confident and comfortable going into seasons, but each year I feel like I'm getting better and better.

My body looks like 30 but my face looks like 50. But I cannot walk bare-chested in the streets. I like to do these movies to challenge myself physically.

Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way.

Your body is like a machine, and if you don't keep it in shape, it holds you back. You don't want anything holding you back, especially yourself.

Everybody doesn't get to do each and every film. I don't compete with others; I compete with myself. I have been an athlete, a sportsperson; so I know how to be competitive in a healthy way.

No, only disappointment in myself on those occasions I didn't manage to rise to the occasion as I felt I should've done. I can always see how to do it, and then the challenge is, Can I manage that each and every day?

Well, any time you do anything good, it's man versus himself, right? That's the art, the challenge.

Probably I'll not be so successful if I will keep everything in myself inside of me.

Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.

The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands.

One of the first things I learned about acting was, the only person you compete against is yourself.

I have my head screwed on right. I haven't been this way in a long time.

Meditation is a lifelong process. Give it a try. As you get deeper and more disciplined into the process, you'll get deeper and more disciplined in your mind and life.

I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.

The genuine truth, and I do think about this a lot, is that I'm one of the least competitive people you'll ever meet. Except with myself.