Motivational Quotes from the Arguably Biggest Icon in Body Building – Arnold Schwarzenegger
There’s no argument that Arnold Schwarzenegger has got to be one of the biggest stand out icons in the history of bodybuilding. Not only was he a huge part of bringing bodybuilding to the masses via his reign as the Austrian Oak and 6-time Mr Olympia winner. He immortalised himself further via his starring role in the cinematic documentary Pumping Iron, which has since become a bodybuilding cult classic.
His phenomenal mass plus aesthetics physique embodies classic bodybuilding, a time when many would argue the sport was in its initial prime. His height coupled with rippling lean mass, broad shoulders and a tiny tapered waist set the standard for bodybuilding for some years. Though arguably his greatest success was being able to turn success on the stage, to success on the silver screen. Via his first real movie role as Conan the Barbarian in 1982.
It's Arnold’s movie career and his super alpha male roles in cult classic movies like Predator, Commando, Total Recall and of course the infamous Terminator franchise which lead to so many teenagers and men being inspired to get into the gym. Train hard and follow in the footsteps of their silver screen idol. Not only does Arnold inspire through his acting and bodybuilding career accomplishments, but the man himself was born to motivate. The outspoken now multi-million dollar earning actor and ex Olympia legend has been long celebrated for his motivational quotes and speeches which range from direct bodybuilding tips and wisdom to motivational truths behind his road to success.
Here are just some of Arnolds best training and bodybuilding quotes:
"The last three or four reps is what makes the muscle grow. This area of pain divides the champion from someone else who is not a champion. That's what most people lack, having the guts to go on and just say they'll go through the pain no matter what happens."
"Bodybuilding is much like any other sport. To be successful, you must dedicate yourself 100% to your training, diet and mental approach."
"I do the same exercises I did 50 years ago, and they still work. I eat the same food I ate 50 years ago and it still works."
"My definition of a sport is that it's a physical activity that involves competition. Since bodybuilders certainly train and then compete, we are certainly a sport."
“There are no shortcuts—everything is reps, reps, reps.”
You can see from this small selection of training and bodybuilding related quotes that Arnold took his approach to bodybuilding as seriously as you’d expect any professional athlete to train for their chosen sport. And that is exactly how Arnold viewed bodybuilding, as a sport, a competition, something he could become the best in the world at.
But something else you see promoted by his quotes is that he considers bodybuilding and muscle growth to be a very simple process. Defined by hard work and consistency which is to be repeated day in and day out whilst always looking for ways to progress. Something many of us can take not just into our training but into our lives as a whole.
Some of Arnolds greatest overall motivational quotes & speeches:
“Good things don’t happen by coincidence. Every dream carries with it certain risks, especially the risk of failure. But I am not stopped by risks. Supposed a great person takes the risk and fails. Then the person must try again. You cannot fail forever. If you try ten times, you have a better chance of making it on the eleventh try than if you didn’t try at all.”
“We all have great inner power. The power is self-faith. There's really an attitude to winning. You have to see yourself winning before you win. And you have to be hungry. You have to want to conquer.”
"Help others and give something back. I guarantee you will discover that while public service improves the lives and the world around you, its greatest reward is the enrichment and new meaning it will bring your own life."
It’s clear in almost all of his quotes about success and winning, that in his belief, winning is largely an attitude, a state of mind. Something that if you don’t have will cause you to fail and hold you back from greatness. Despite being famous for his physique, Arnold regularly reminds us that mental strength and belief in one’s self are key ingredients to reaching your potential.
One of the most recognised and repeated of Arnold’s motivational quotations, his 6 tips for success speech:
- Trust Yourself
- Break Some Rules
- Don’t be Afraid to Fail
- Ignore the Naysayers
- Work Like Hell
- Give Something Back
Tips and philosophies, we can all take into the gym, our careers and our daily lives in order to reach a better standard of living and all-round success and happiness. From a small town in Austria living a modest life, to Californian bodybuilder becoming Mr Olympia. On to Hollywood superstardom in immortalising roles. To then even find his way into politics as the governor of California itself. It’s safe to say that Arnold's words of wisdom come from experienced and justified derivation.
Motivated Yet?
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