My athleticism was really the core to social acceptance, because in those days the overwhelming number of students came from more of a public school background than I did.

Quote by Roger Bannister

Topics: Roger Bannister Quotes

I was playing rugby and the other games English school children do, and there was...

I was playing rugby and the other games English school children do, and there was...

I was always a great bundle of energy. As a child, instead of walking, I...

I was always a great bundle of energy. As a child, instead of walking, I...

You get very tired, and there was a certain amount of pain and you slow...

You get very tired, and there was a certain amount of pain and you slow...

My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great...

My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great...

I wanted to be a neurologist. That seemed to be the most difficult, most intriguing,...

I wanted to be a neurologist. That seemed to be the most difficult, most intriguing,...

May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad....

May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad....

I think that is a universal adolescent feeling, trying to find your place. The adolescent...

I think that is a universal adolescent feeling, trying to find your place. The adolescent...

I lived on the top of one hill and the school was at the top...

I lived on the top of one hill and the school was at the top...

Our house was bombed, and the roof fell in. We were sitting under the stairs...

Our house was bombed, and the roof fell in. We were sitting under the stairs...

When I was about to break a world record and become well known, my mother...

When I was about to break a world record and become well known, my mother...

I came from such a simple origin, without any great privilege, and I would say...

I came from such a simple origin, without any great privilege, and I would say...

I found longer races boring. I found the mile just perfect.

I found longer races boring. I found the mile just perfect.

Life was very simple. My parents had come from the North of England, which is...

Life was very simple. My parents had come from the North of England, which is...

I couldn't disappoint people. I did not want to fail and exhaust myself, because I...

I couldn't disappoint people. I did not want to fail and exhaust myself, because I...

The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man...

The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man...

I raced supremely well. I felt I was as well fitted to do it as...

I raced supremely well. I felt I was as well fitted to do it as...

The Athletic Association competed against the University. So there was an event. You cannot break...

The Athletic Association competed against the University. So there was an event. You cannot break...

I've always been very impatient. At age 10 I frankly found life boring, and I...

I've always been very impatient. At age 10 I frankly found life boring, and I...

It had always been a British preoccupation to hold this mile record.

It had always been a British preoccupation to hold this mile record.

Mothers, unless they were very poor, didn't work. Both of my parents had to leave...

Mothers, unless they were very poor, didn't work. Both of my parents had to leave...