I don't read a lot of the sports, because I think people

When Herschel Walker declared, “I don’t read a lot of the sports, because I think people sometimes either build it up, or you have this guy that hates sports that is going to write bad about it, so I figure I’m not going to read it. Because I’m not going to let him put an idea into my head,” he was not merely speaking of newspapers or critics. He was revealing a principle of the mind, a warrior’s discipline: that the thoughts we allow into our hearts shape our destiny, and therefore must be guarded with vigilance. His words remind us that one must be the master of his own spirit, not the prisoner of another’s opinion.

The origin of this quote lies in Walker’s career as one of the most celebrated athletes of his time. He knew both the glory of victory and the weight of public judgment. In the arena of sports, as in life, there are always voices—some who praise beyond reason, and others who condemn without cause. To listen too closely to either is to risk being swayed from one’s true path. Herschel, like an ancient warrior, chose to keep his mind pure from the poison of flattery and the sting of scorn, guarding his thoughts as a soldier guards his fortress.

History offers us many examples of this wisdom. Consider the tale of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher. Surrounded by both flatterers and critics, he carried with him a notebook in which he wrote his Meditations. In it, he reminded himself daily not to be lifted too high by praise, nor crushed by blame. His greatness lay not in conquering nations, but in conquering himself. Herschel’s refusal to read the words of those who would distort his reality echoes this same stoic resolve: control the battlefield of the mind, and you will remain unshaken.

This teaching reveals a deeper truth: the mind is fertile soil, and the words we let fall upon it become seeds. If we permit the seeds of doubt or vanity to take root, they will grow into chains that bind us. But if we guard our soil and plant only the seeds of discipline, focus, and self-belief, we will reap a harvest of strength. Herschel’s decision not to read the works of those who might mislead him is not ignorance, but wisdom. He knows that once an idea enters the mind, it is hard to uproot, and so he chooses carefully what he allows in.

It is also a call to courage. For it is easier to follow the crowd, to consume the words of critics and commentators, to let others tell us who we are. But Herschel’s path is harder, nobler. He teaches us to stand firm in self-knowledge, to draw strength from within, rather than being tossed about by the opinions of the multitude. Like a tree rooted deep in the earth, such a man cannot be moved by passing storms of judgment.

The lesson for us is clear: we must guard our minds as sacred ground. Let no careless word of envy, no false praise, no bitter criticism settle there. Instead, fill your thoughts with truth, with purpose, with the voice of your own calling. When doubt arises, let discipline answer it. When flattery whispers, let humility silence it. Only then will you walk your path with clarity, as Herschel did on the field, unmoved by the noise around him.

So, children of wisdom, take this into your lives: be mindful of the voices you allow to shape your thoughts. Choose carefully what you read, what you hear, and what you dwell upon. Do not let the critic’s venom or the flatterer’s honey bend your spirit. For as Herschel Walker showed, greatness is not found in being praised or condemned—it is found in being steadfast, in listening to the inner voice that guides you toward your destiny.

And thus remember: “I’m not going to let him put an idea into my head.” This is the creed of the strong, the shield of the wise, the oath of the unshaken. Let it be yours as well. For he who governs his own mind cannot be conquered by any man.