I don't want to just be the best player. I want to be a great

The words of Miguel Cabrera, the legendary baseball player, shine with the quiet brilliance of wisdom earned through struggle and reflection: “I don’t want to just be the best player. I want to be a great person, too.” In these words lies a truth older than sport itself—that skill without virtue is hollow, and greatness without goodness is a fleeting shadow. Cabrera’s words remind us that the truest victories are not only those scored on fields or arenas, but those won within the heart.

Born in Venezuela, Cabrera rose from humble beginnings to become one of baseball’s most revered champions—a Triple Crown winner, an achievement unseen in decades. Yet behind the statistics and trophies stood a man who had faced his share of storms: moments of personal failure, trials of character, and the heavy gaze of public judgment. From those ashes, he emerged not just stronger, but wiser. He learned that greatness measured by applause alone is fragile, but greatness anchored in integrity and humility endures. His declaration was not boastful—it was a vow to balance excellence in sport with excellence in soul.

To say, “I want to be a great person, too,” is to understand that victory must serve a higher purpose. The world is filled with those who chase glory, but few who chase goodness. The best player may command the field, but the great person commands the heart. Cabrera’s words echo the teachings of the ancients, who believed that every talent bestowed upon a person carries a duty—to use it not merely for fame or gain, but for the upliftment of others. A true champion inspires not only by winning, but by how they carry themselves in defeat, by the grace with which they walk among those who cheer and those who doubt.

History is rich with examples of this dual greatness. Consider Roberto Clemente, another son of Latin America, who stood among the best players of his time. Yet his true immortality came not from his hits or his home runs, but from his heart. He used his fame to serve the poor, to send aid to the suffering, to stand for justice when silence was safer. He died delivering supplies to earthquake victims—a final act of compassion. Clemente showed the world that athletic greatness fades, but moral greatness endures beyond death. Cabrera’s sentiment flows from the same well: the belief that character is the highest championship.

In these words we hear a call to every person who strives, competes, or creates: remember that mastery of skill is only half the journey. The other half is mastery of self. A person who wins without kindness, who excels without empathy, becomes like a statue—admired but lifeless. The one who pursues virtue alongside victory becomes like a flame—warming others, even after their moment on the stage has passed. Thus, Cabrera’s philosophy is not just for athletes, but for all who seek to live meaningfully: Be excellent, but be kind. Be strong, but be good.

Cabrera’s wisdom also reminds us that being “a great person” is not a fixed state, but a continual effort. To strive for moral greatness requires daily acts of humility, forgiveness, and courage. It means admitting mistakes and rising wiser from them. It means treating others with respect, no matter one’s rank or reputation. For greatness of the body fades with time, but greatness of spirit grows ever stronger. When skill is joined with virtue, the player becomes a teacher, and the game becomes a mirror of life itself.

The lesson is as simple as it is profound: do not let your ambition outgrow your humanity. Seek greatness not just in what you do, but in who you are becoming. Practical action: honor others in your pursuit of excellence. Lift up those who walk beside you. When success tempts you toward pride, remember Cabrera’s words and choose gratitude instead. Be the best in your craft, but let compassion guide your strength. For when your career is finished and your achievements turn to dust, only one thing will remain shining in the hearts of others—the memory that you were not just the best, but truly a great person.