“There’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do”
New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter played from 1995 until 2014. His uniform number (#2) was retired in May 2017. Jeter told Yankees Magazine in May 1996:
“My folks taught me at a very young age that there may be people who have more talent than you do, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do, and I believe that. I’m playing short here and I want to win here and I hope to do both for a very long time. I hope to be a part of all that winning tradition.”
“There may be people who have more talent than you do, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do” became a famous Jeter quotation and has been printed on many images.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” is a related saying.
Wikipedia: Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter (/ˈdʒiːtər/ JEE-tər) (born June 26, 1974) is an American former professional baseball shortstop who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. A five-time World Series champion, Jeter is regarded as a central figure of the Yankees’ success of the late 1990s and early 2000s for his hitting, baserunning, fielding, and leadership. He is the Yankees’ all-time career leader in hits (3,465), doubles (544), games played (2,747), stolen bases (358), times on base (4,716), plate appearances (12,602) and at bats (11,195). His accolades include 14 All-Star selections, five Gold Glove Awards, five Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards, and a Roberto Clemente Award. Jeter became the 28th player to reach 3,000 hits and finished his career sixth all-time in career hits and the all-time MLB leader in hits by a shortstop. His uniform number, 2, was retired by the Yankees in a ceremony on May 14th 2017.
Yankees Magazine
May 1996
Nothing Short of Spectacular
By Mark Balk
(...)
“My folks taught me at a very young age that there may be people who have more talent than you do, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do, and I believe that. I’m playing short here and I want to win here and I hope to do both for a very long time. I hope to be a part of all that winning tradition.”
February 2004, Highlights for Children, “Who Is a Hero?” by Marty Kaminsky, pg. 41:
“Right from the start, my parents told my sister and me that we could be successful, and then they showed us how,” says Mr. Jeter, the star shortstop for the New York Yankees. “After my Little League games my dad would take me to the high-school field and hit me extra grounders and then pitch to me. My mom and sister would patiently field the balls I hit. My parents taught me that there may be people with more talent, but there is never an excuse for anyone to work harder than I do.”
Derek Jeter is the founder and president of the Turn 2 Foundation, which inspires kids to become leaders.
15 June 2008, Sheboygan (WI) Press, “Feick says: Don’t let stress get you: College plans: University of Wisconsin-Madison,” pg. B6:
Favorite quote: “There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” - Derek Jeter
Google Groups: 6A0N7
There may be people that have more talent than you…
nWo, The Creator
12/8/08
...but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do!
Google Books
On the Field with…Derek Jeter
By Matt Christopher
New York, NY: Little. Brown and Company
2009 (2000)
Pg. ?:
Derek later told a reporter, “My folks taught me that there may be people who have more talent, but there’s never any excuse for anyone to work harder than you do — and I believe that.”
Twitter
Mike Erwin
@cowboy13
“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”
11:38 AM - 30 Mar 2009
Twitter
James Laker
@james_laker
There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do
Derek Jeter #quote
1:25 AM - 24 Aug 2009
Bleacher Report
Reflecting on All That Derek Jeter Was
GARY PHILLIPS
SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
(...)
“There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do—and I believe that.”
Google Books
Derek Jeter:
Pride Of The Yankees
By Patrick Giles
New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press
2015
Pg. ?:
“My folks taught me at a very young age that there may be people who have more talent than you do,” Derek told Yankees magazine, “but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do—and I believe that.”