The breakfast of champions is not cereal, it’s the opposition.

The line is a punchy inversion of the advertising cliché “breakfast of champions,” shifting the idea of what “fuels” excellence from food to rivalry. It suggests that high achievers are energized by challenge—by competitors, critics, and obstacles—rather than by comfort or routine. The humor (cereal vs. opposition) underscores a serious point: sustained excellence often depends on having something to push against, whether that is a formidable opponent, a demanding standard, or a resistant environment. In this reading, “opposition” is not merely an enemy but a necessary ingredient for growth, sharpening skill, focus, and resilience.