What does this mean?a pat on the back and a kick in the butt are only six inches away. ?

Question

"You've got to realize, a pat on the back and a kick in the butt are only six inches away. You've got to stay humble and keep working." -- what does this mean 10 points

Answer 1

You can win, but don't get cocky

Answer 2

It means that there is a thin line between winning and losing and your state of mind could very well decide the outcome between the two. Basically, what everyone else is answering on this question. But if you really want to go into depth what the meaning of this saying is, then I'll be glad to explain it to you. I believe it is mostly a metaphor between winning and losing (previously stated), with "a pat on the back" meaning you win, and "a kick in the butt" meaning you lose. The "six inches away" part is the thin line between winning and losing, because as we all know six inches is not a long distance.

Answer 3

If you take risks, you better be prepared to deal with the fallout....



If you took a risk and did good, you get 'the pat on the back' for a job well done.......but the risk had the possibility failing in which case you would have gotten the 'kick in the ***'. Your failure can at times be just inches away.



Basically.....take risks only when there is a better chance of success than of failure. In business, this can mean the difference between the promotion and being fired for failing on a project or a process.

Answer 4

Why is this in football (american)? It can be related to the sport though. 6 inches can mean 1st down or turn over on downs. So with that, 1st down can get you a pat but falling short just 6 inches gets you the boot.



Same in life, dont get to comfortable with those pats on the back. You can slip up just as easy and get a swift kick. Its a fine line to walk.

Answer 5

It means people could like or hate you very easily. You can be a friend to someone and get a pat on the back or offend another and get kicked. They say to stay humble because both actions are so related to eachother.

Answer 6

It means that if you keep working people will reward you (pat on the back) but if you dont people will be willing to kick you in the butt...



Moral of the story is good work is rewarded - and if you dont work and are not humble you willl be punished...

Answer 7

It means if you keep doing good work you will get a pat on your back which means "bravo" if not a kick in the *** meaning "you're fired".

Answer 8

It means dont get cocky just because you earned some kudo's. You have to stay humble, otherwise your ego will get crushed when you fail.

Answer 9

My coach says that.It means even if ur winning dont show it stay calm and keep fighting

Answer 10

you could be doing well and getting praised at one moment, then you could be kicked to the curve in the next

Answer 11

stay humble don't think i am bigger so i am better or i am faster so i'll take it lightly no you work your *** off every god damn play

Answer 12

it means there is a thin line between doing good and screwing up. or maybe i'm an idiot.

Answer 13

there a thin line between winning and losing and if you get too cocky you can lose it