Evel Knievel Quotes

Powerful Evel Knievel for Daily Growth

About Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel (Robert Craig Knievel, born Robert Walter Knievel on October 17, 1938 – November 30, 2007) was an American daredevil stunt performer known for his motorcycle jumps over long distances and obstacles. Known as "The King of Stunt Jumping," Evel Knievel's flamboyant style, charisma, and death-defying feats made him a cultural icon of the 1970s. Born in Butte, Montana, Knievel grew up with a fascination for motorcycles and stunt riding. He honed his skills as a young man working at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Butte. Influenced by motorcycle daredevils such as Joe 'Wild Bill' Guest, Knievel began performing stunts, eventually leading to the legendary figure we know today. Knievel's career took off in 1967 when he jumped 50 cars at the Los Angeles Coliseum, marking his first major jump and launching him into superstardom. Over the next decade, Knievel would attempt more than 75 ramp-to-ramp jumps, setting records for distance and complexity. Some of his most famous jumps include jumping over the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas (1967), Idlewild Airport's Snake River Canyon (1974), and Wembley Stadium in London (1975). Despite numerous injuries, including a fractured pelvis, skull fracture, and crushed vertebrae, Knievel continued pushing the limits of human endurance. His daring exploits and larger-than-life persona made him an international celebrity, with appearances on popular television shows like "That Was the Week That Was," "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," and "Laugh-In." Evel Knievel's legacy continues to inspire generations of extreme sports enthusiasts. His bravery, showmanship, and resilience in the face of adversity have cemented his status as one of America's most iconic figures.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm not just riding these motorcycles for a living, I'm living these motorcycles."

Evel Knievel's quote signifies his deep passion and dedication to motorcycle stunt-riding, stating that it is not merely his profession but an integral part of his life. In essence, he was not just existing alongside motorcycles; he embodied them, making the thrill and challenge synonymous with his very being.

"Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most days I just ride it, but on special days, I ride it fast."

This quote by Evel Knievel suggests that life should be approached with both casual acceptance (riding the bike on most days) and moments of exhilaration (riding it fast on special days). It implies a balance between living a simple, routine life and embracing opportunities for excitement and growth when they present themselves. Essentially, it encourages us to enjoy the journey of life while also finding and seizing its extraordinary moments.

"To be successful, you have to believe that you can do the impossible."

This quote by Evel Knievel emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself and having unwavering faith in one's abilities, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges or tasks deemed "impossible." It underscores that success often stems from our mindset and confidence in our potential. By pushing past perceived limitations, we can achieve extraordinary feats and unlock new possibilities for ourselves and others.

"You can't expect to wow people by doing the same old stuff, boring stuff, everyday stuff."

This quote emphasizes the importance of innovation and excitement in life and work. Evel Knievel suggests that complacency with routine and monotony is not only unimpressive but also fails to engage or inspire others. To stand out, it's essential to strive for originality, creativity, and daring exploits – in other words, to create the extraordinary rather than settling for the ordinary.

"I'm a thrill-seeker, an innovator, and a showman. I like to be in control, but the real excitement comes from not being in control."

Evel Knievel, the legendary daredevil, expresses that he is a risk-taker who enjoys pushing boundaries (thrill-seeker), constantly coming up with new stunts (innovator), and engaging audiences (showman). He values control yet finds the true exhilaration in surrendering it to the unpredictable (not being in control). This quote encapsulates the paradoxical allure of risk-taking: the desire for control combined with the thrill of uncertainty.

I think if you have ability and talent in one way, you have it in all ways. I'm not a jack of all trades; I'm a master of many. I don't feel there is anything I can't do if I want to.

- Evel Knievel

Think, Want, I Think, Trades

The Internal Revenue Service is more ruthless than the Gestapo. Abolish the IRS! Stamp out organized crime!

- Evel Knievel

More, Internal, Abolish, Gestapo

There are a lot of myths about my injuries. They say I have broken every bone in my body. Not true. But I have broken 35 bones. I had surgery 14 times to pin and plate. I shattered my pelvis. I forget all of the things that have broke.

- Evel Knievel

Injuries, About, Shattered, Pin

Those extreme-sports kids today are good, but they have it easy. Try falling off of a motorcycle going 70 or 80 miles per hour on asphalt. Believe me, nothing equals it.

- Evel Knievel

Falling, Nothing, Going, Per

I don't know what in the world happened. I don't know if it was the power of the prayer or God himself, but it just reached out, either while I was driving or walking down the sidewalk or sleeping, and it just - the power of God in Jesus just grabbed me... All of a sudden, I just believed in Jesus Christ. I did, I believed in him!

- Evel Knievel

Down, Him, While, Believed

Riding a motorcycle on today's highways, you have to ride in a very defensive manner. You have to be a good rider and you have to have both hands and both feet on the controls at all times.

- Evel Knievel

Feet, Hands, Very, Highways

The saddest thing is when a guy is paying so much attention to the world and everything going by that he can't take the time for his own mother.

- Evel Knievel

Own, Guy, Going, Much Attention

In the old days they, the promoters, wanted more and more from me. They wanted me to jump or spill my blood and break my bones. Every time they wanted me to jump further, and further, and further. Hell, they thought my bike had wings.

- Evel Knievel

Thought, Break, Spill, Promoters

Women are the root of all evil. I ought to know. I'm Evel.

- Evel Knievel

Evil, Know, Root, Women Are

I foresee the Chinese ruling the world. What are you going to do to stop it? No president of the United States will ever have enough power to stop the Chinese when they want to take over the world.

- Evel Knievel

Over, Going, United States, Foresee

I think these shows with the young kids doing these jumps, doing these fantastic back flips, I think they're absolutely great. They did what I never did.

- Evel Knievel

Doing, Think, I Think, Flips

People pay a million dollars to be recognized, but nobody cares about them. They cared about me because I did things other men were afraid to do. That's why my fans identified with me.

- Evel Knievel

Other, Recognized, About, Identified

It's easy to be famous today. People pay a million dollars to be recognized, but nobody cares about them. They cared about me because I did things other men were afraid to do. That's why my fans identified with me. They were mostly working-class.

- Evel Knievel

Other, Working-Class, Mostly, Identified

Titanic Thompson and Amarillo Slim would have run from a game with Marty Stanovich. Marty could really play, and he didn't cheat.

- Evel Knievel

Game, Play, Could, Titanic

Marty Stanovich was an honorable man.

- Evel Knievel

Man, Honorable, Marty

I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.

- Evel Knievel

Love, Feeling, Through, Fresh

I am a guy who is first of all a businessman. I'm not a stunt man. I'm not a daredevil. I'm - I'm an explorer.

- Evel Knievel

Guy, Stunt, Am, Explorer

I guess I thought I was Elvis Presley but I'll tell ya something. All Elvis did was stand on a stage and play a guitar. He never fell off on that pavement at no 80 mph.

- Evel Knievel

Thought, Play, Pavement, Mph

When I hit that pavement at 70 or 80 mph those suits just ripped.

- Evel Knievel

Hit, Ripped, Pavement, Mph

A motorcycle coming down from 30 feet at 70 mph gives you a terrible jolt.

- Evel Knievel

Motorcycle, Feet, Down, Mph

I recently have had a full hip replacement and a liver transplant, and I'm getting used to the medication.

- Evel Knievel

Liver, Getting, Recently, Medication

When you're mad at someone, it's probably best not to break his arm with a baseball bat.

- Evel Knievel

Mad, Someone, His, Arm

I have my tombstone already. A tombstone company in the East gave it to me when I jumped Snake Canyon. My plot is in Montana.

- Evel Knievel

Snake, Tombstone, East, Montana

You know, I had a couple hundred jumps in my career, and I made most of them, but the ones they show over and over are the ones when I crashed.

- Evel Knievel

Over, Couple, Hundred, Crashed

You can't say you're going to jump the Grand Canyon and then jump some other canyon.

- Evel Knievel

Some, Other, Going, Canyon

There's just no stopping me. I went through life big-bang-banda-boom-bada-boom.

- Evel Knievel

Me, Through, Just, Stopping

I'm better than P. T. Barnum and Colonel Parker put together.

- Evel Knievel

Better, Than, T, Parker

My life has been being a daredevil. I am Evel Knievel. I am a daredevil.

- Evel Knievel

I Am, My Life, Been, Daredevil

I'm not only the best-known daredevil on the face of the earth, I'm the oldest.

- Evel Knievel

Face, Earth, Oldest, Daredevil

My wife and I, we like to ride where there's not much traffic.

- Evel Knievel

Wife, Like, Where, Traffic

I want to be the first. If they'd let me go to the moon, I'd crawl all the way to Cape Kennedy just to do it. I'd like to go to the moon, but I don't want to be the second man to go there.

- Evel Knievel

Want, Like, To The Moon, Crawl

I like to help kids, work with kids in detention homes. Don't tell a kid what's right and wrong. He knows what's right and wrong. Find out what his attitude and his aptitude are; try to help him where he wants to go.

- Evel Knievel

Kid, Him, Tell, Aptitude

My grandpa got me a set of Wilson clubs, Sam Snead models, when I was 12. Many years later, when I'd become well known, I got to know Sam, and we played a lot of golf together.

- Evel Knievel

Years, Got, Grandpa, Wilson

You can be famous for a lot of things. You can be a Nobel-prize winner. You can be the fattest guy in the world.

- Evel Knievel

Winner, Famous, Lot, Fattest

I went through high school, but I didn't graduate.

- Evel Knievel

School, Through, High, Graduate

I can still crack a safe with one hand tied behind my back. I'm not proud of it. But I was always against society.

- Evel Knievel

Behind, Always, Still, Crack

I thought I was bulletproof or Superman there for a while. I thought I'd never run out of nerve. Never.

- Evel Knievel

Thought, Never, Bulletproof, Nerve

I wish there was such a thing as reincarnation.

- Evel Knievel

Wish, I Wish, Thing, Such A Thing

I don't have any problems in life, just situations.

- Evel Knievel

Life, Just, Any, Problems

I know that I'm very lucky to be alive. For 35 or 40 years I've spilt my blood and broke my bones and spent years in hospitals.

- Evel Knievel

Lucky, Hospitals, Very, Spilt

I play golf five days a week. I find that if I play seven days a week, I get stale.

- Evel Knievel

Golf, Play, Week, Stale

All my life people have been waiting around to watch me die.

- Evel Knievel

My Life, Die, Been, All My Life

I think I coulda landed on a dime. I really do.

- Evel Knievel

Think, I Think, Really, Dime

I am not, never have been, and never will be a politician. But I want to tell you the United States has always been proud of having the support of the United Kingdom, of keeping Britain in Europe. We need Britain in Europe.

- Evel Knievel

Always, Been, United States, Europe

The Harley's got a little too much torque when it comes to jumping.

- Evel Knievel

Too Much, Jumping, Too, Harley

I can't keep track of my hospital time. It all sort of blurs together.

- Evel Knievel

Time, Keep, Sort, Hospital

Nothing's worse than a guy who loses fair and square and then whines about it.

- Evel Knievel

Nothing, Square, Than, Loses

You can't forbid children to do things that are available to them at every turn. God told Eve, 'Don't give the apple to Adam,' and look what happened. It's in our nature to want the things we see.

- Evel Knievel

Nature, Give, Adam, Eve

You'd think a guy who has broken 35 bones in his body would have a high pain threshold, but mine is pretty low. I got hit in the shin with a golf ball once, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I've had broken bones that didn't hurt as bad.

- Evel Knievel

Tears, Bad, Brought, Hurt

I did everything by the seat of my pants. That's why I got hurt so much.

- Evel Knievel

Why, Pants, Seat, Hurt

Unless we do things in this country to slow down our population, slow down our birth control, provide better water for people, provide power for people, we're gonna find out that the next wars are not going to be fought over diamonds, gold and political things.

- Evel Knievel

Diamonds, Country, Next, Population

This is a year and a few months after the transplant. Before I had it my doctors told me that it would be the biggest thing that I ever had to face and believe me, when they take your liver out of ya and put another one in it's like replacing a football in your stomach.

- Evel Knievel

Year, Another, Before, Ya

I know guys in my hometown that drive by feel and sound.

- Evel Knievel

Hometown, Sound, Know, Guys

I learned one thing from jumping motorcycles that was of great value on the golf course, the putting green especially: Whatever you do, don't come up short.

- Evel Knievel

Green, Jumping, Putting, Motorcycles

You are the master of your own ship, pal. There are lots of people who fall into troubled waters and don't have the guts or the knowledge or the ability to make it to shore. They have nobody to blame but themselves.

- Evel Knievel

Own, Shore, Waters, Troubled

If there is a heaven, I don't know anything else I can do to get there - and neither do you.

- Evel Knievel

Get, Else, Neither, Heaven

You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.

- Evel Knievel

Think, Come, About, Care

My own judgment of how the world is gonna end is that there will be a country led by a madman that will build a nuclear bomb with so much force, so much power, that it will be dropped somewhere on the face of this earth and that the earth will lose its place.

- Evel Knievel

Country, Own, Dropped, Nuclear

I think through education, belief in God, and good engineering, our children become a lot better at what they're doing than we did, and that starts with the very first sign of life on the face of this earth.

- Evel Knievel

Doing, Through, Very, Engineering

Kids come up to me all the time and say, 'Once I was going through a really bad time, and I saw you crash and get up, and it inspired me.'

- Evel Knievel

Bad, Through, Bad Time, Crash

Anybody can jump a motorcycle. The trouble begins when you try to land it.

- Evel Knievel

Motorcycle, Begins, Anybody, Jump

Breaks your heart when your son doesn't love you.

- Evel Knievel

Love, Son, Breaks, Love You

Prison was tough on me. I saw people in prison that made me ashamed I was a human being. Some make Qaddafi and Idi Amin look like Sunday-school teachers.

- Evel Knievel

Some, Human Being, Ashamed, Prison

If you look at the Bible almost everything that was predicted, maybe everything, has come to pass.

- Evel Knievel

Bible, Maybe, Almost, Almost Everything

If you don't know about pain and trouble, you're in sad shape. They make you appreciate life.

- Evel Knievel

Sad, Pain, Shape, Trouble

But you come to a point in your life when you can't pull the trigger anymore.

- Evel Knievel

Pull, Come, Your, Trigger

Harley-Davidson is the finest company in the world.

- Evel Knievel

World, Finest, Company

I've always been concerned about kids - not just my own three, but all kids - what kind of an image I'm providing for them, what kind of inspiration. I don't know now. Maybe I'm leading them down the path to self-destruction.

- Evel Knievel

Been, Concerned, Providing, Self-Destruction

I really think we should pass a law in every state, I don't care whether it takes the independence away from an old person or not. You shouldn't be driving a car if you're over the age of 80. Maybe even less than that.

- Evel Knievel

Car, Away, Maybe, Driving

I've been in a treatment center for drinkin'. I stayed for two days, then escaped.

- Evel Knievel

Been, Treatment, Stayed, Escaped

I decided to fly through the air and live in the sunlight and enjoy life as much as I could.

- Evel Knievel

Fly, Through, Decided, Much

I always knew how to draw a crowd.

- Evel Knievel

Crowd, How, Always, Draw

The finest compliment you can pay a man is that his word was as good as gold.

- Evel Knievel

Gold, Finest, His, Compliment

If I'm out trailriding, I have a favorite motorcycle. Riding on the road, I've got a favorite. If I'm jumping, I have a favorite, and if I'm racing, I have a favorite.

- Evel Knievel

Racing, Riding, Jumping, Motorcycle

I guess I'm like any other concerned father, except that nobody else's son guns a cycle over 17 pickups without holding on to the handlebars.

- Evel Knievel

Other, Over, Holding On, Guess

My failures had a lot to do with my fame. I created Evel Knievel, and then he sort of got away from me.

- Evel Knievel

Away, Failures, Created, Fame

If you fall during your life, it doesn't matter. You're never a failure as long as you try to get up.

- Evel Knievel

Life, Matter, Your, Try

God made us. He's in charge of everything, right? If He didn't like us, why didn't he change us?

- Evel Knievel

Change, Like, Made, Charge

The most important thing in life is, if you have a dream, I mean a real good dream, follow it.

- Evel Knievel

Real, The Most Important, Mean

I created Evel Knievel, and then he sort of got away from me.

- Evel Knievel

Me, Away, Then, Created

I am a lucky, lucky person.

- Evel Knievel

I Am, Person, Lucky Person, Lucky

Sometimes I keep a car for only a week or two. I like the newest and the flashiest.

- Evel Knievel

Car, Sometimes, Like, Week

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