Quote of the Day by long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge: ‘Only the disciplined ones in life are free; if you are undisciplined…’

Before Eliud Kipchoge speaks about freedom, it helps to remember that this 41-year-old Kenyan has spent decades mastering the art of doing the same brutally hard thing every single day. Often regarded as the greatest marathon runner of his generation, a world-record holder, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and the only human to ever dip below two hours over 26.2 miles,

To understand the scale of that consistency, consider this: a sub-two-hour marathon is the equivalent of running a 100-meter sprint in just over 17 seconds, 422 times in a row. On October 12, Kipchoge went even faster, clocking 1:59:40. He didn’t outrun limits by following his moods; he outran his moods to break them.

That mindset is neatly captured in one of Kipchoge’s most quoted lines and may give you the motivation you need to bring discipline into your work.


Today’s quote by Eliud Kipchoge: ‘Only the disciplined ones in life are free; if you are undisciplined, you are a slave to your moods and your passions’

Meaning of the quote

Eliud Kipchoge’s quote means that true freedom comes from self-discipline, not from doing whatever we feel like in the moment. When a person is disciplined, they control their habits, emotions, and impulses. They decide their actions based on purpose and long-term goals, not temporary moods. This gives them freedom, freedom to improve, to stay consistent, and to choose what truly matters.

On the other hand, being undisciplined means being controlled by emotions, cravings, laziness, or impulses. Such a person may feel “free” at first, but in reality they are reacting to moods and passions rather than leading their own life, which is why Kipchoge calls it a form of slavery.

About Eliud Kipchoge

Eliud Kipchoge is often regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, redefining what the human body can achieve over 26.2 miles. The Kenyan great sealed his fifth Abbott World Marathon Majors Series title in 2022 after winning the Tokyo Marathon in a course record. 2:02:40, before going on to shatter his own world record at the BMW Berlin Marathon with a blistering 2:01:09.

A two-time Olympic champion, Kipchoge won marathon gold in Rio 2016 and successfully defended his title at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021. In 2019, he made history by becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours, clocking 1:59:40 at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, a landmark achievement, even though it was not eligible for official records.

Before conquering the roads, Kipchoge enjoyed a stellar track career, winning 5000m gold at the 2003 World Championships and claiming Olympic silver and bronze in 2008 and 2004 respectively. As per World Marathon Majors, since making his marathon debut with victory in Chicago in 2015, he has lost just twice in 15 starts, collecting multiple wins in London and Berlin along the way.