Effort without talent is a depressing situation... but talent without effort is a tragedy.
Hell begins on the day when God grants us a clear vision of all that we might have achieved, of all the gifts which we have wasted, of all that we might have done which we did not do.
I intended to be famous by the time I was 16 and rich by the time I was 20. Curiously, it didn't pan out!
I think when you sign a recording deal, you think, 'I'm going to put out a song and have a hit right away. I'll be a giant superstar. I can take over the world now.' But I put out a song, and it did OK. It wasn't like leaps and bounds.
I was sure I'd set the world on fire, and it was hard for a young feller like me to realize the truth - that I hadn't set the world on fire, and I was totally unprepared to handle the consequences if 'The Big Trail' had been a success and launched me as a star.
I'd been told I was going to be the next big thing. But in actual fact, the complete opposite happened.
For a lot of different reasons I didn't fulfil my potential.
I've got a lot of silvers. Second seems to be something I end up being. I don't want to be the bridesmaid forever.
My biggest loss was the Olympics. I just can't forget losing. I never will.
I lost money, coaching jobs, a shot at the Hall of Fame.
The fear of becoming a 'has-been' keeps some people from becoming anything.
You never forget the feeling of not getting to the World Series. Yes, it sticks with you.
I had a dream, as young people have quite idealistic dreams and goals, of, 'I'm going to go to Los Angeles, and I'm going to become a star!' I did get this huge record deal, and I recorded this music under Xavier. That didn't really work out.
We look for some reward of our endeavors and are disappointed that not success, not happiness, not even peace of conscience, crowns our ineffectual efforts to do well. Our frailties are invincible, our virtues barren; the battle goes sore against us to the going down of the sun.
I thought 'The Well' was going to launch my career, but nothing happened.
Behind me the branches of a wasted and sterile existence are cracking.
I wish if I could have achieved more success in my life earlier when my mom could see that happen, she could have seen those movies, could see the success rate that happened after I lost her.
Stuck as Adam Cartwright, I was only able to use about one-tenth of my ability.
It was always disappointing to see that what I could really master in terms of form boiled down to so little.
You were always told that if you worked hard, you would get somewhere. But so many people feel they have worked hard and they have nothing to show for it.
The Cure is clearly above average but seemingly unable to rally itself to move to a higher plateau.
Every year, I am reminded of the kids who aren't in the freshman class and aren't graduating. I remember every single one of them. That is the worst of times for me, to see the future snuffed out.
I am leaps and bounds better than Henry Cejudo. I greatly believe that. But unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to prove it.
Some of us find our lives abridged even before the paperback comes out.
I curse myself if I get out without making a 100 after crossing 40.
