--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's always been about the team; it's…" description: "\"It's always been about the team; it's never been about myself.\" — AB de Villiers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ab-de-villiers-5293_about_it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-nev_1500861.jpg" --- # It's always been about the team; it's never been about… ![“It's always been about the team; it's never been about myself.” quote by AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ab-de-villiers-5293_about_it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-nev_1500861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ab-de-villiers-5293_about_it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-nev_1500861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ab-de-villiers-5293_about_it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-nev_1500861.jpg) > “It's always been about the team; it's never been about myself.” [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He stresses that team success supersedes personal glory. **In simple terms:** Team comes before self. Key Takeaway Prioritize collective goals over ego. Themes teamwork selflessness leadership humility Mood dedicated humble Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - sports - corporate projects - volunteer groups Key Concepts collective achievement role models Questions to Reflect On - How to balance personal ambition with team needs? - When does self‑advocacy benefit the team? A Different Perspective Team focus may suppress individual expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [I'm always happy to help the team with goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-odegaard/i-m-always-happy-to-help-the-team-with-goals/) [Martin Odegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-odegaard/) > [I would never want to take TOMS or myself into an issues debate. That's not what we're about. We're about helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/i-would-never-want-to-take-toms-or-myself-into-an-issues-debate-that/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [I say this about everything: when I was on 'Neighbours,' I said, 'These are the best years of my life!' When I was filming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/i-say-this-about-everything-when-i-was-on-neighbours-i-said-these-are/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [One of the ways we work is that we attack with relationships. The only way you build those relationships is by repetition in training,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/one-of-the-ways-we-work-is-that-we-attack-with-relationships-the-only/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [I have scored against every team, every country, every defender in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romario/i-have-scored-against-every-team-every-country-every-defender-in-the/) [Romario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romario/) > [I like to speed teams up. I don't like them to get in their rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/i-like-to-speed-teams-up-i-don-t-like-them-to-get-in-their-rhythm/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I want to be able to help the coach and team as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-modric/i-want-to-be-able-to-help-the-coach-and-team-as-much-as-i-can/) [Luka Modric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-modric/) > [When you're losing, you see what your team is made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-granderson/when-you-re-losing-you-see-what-your-team-is-made-of/) [Curtis Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-granderson/) > [You do anything you can for your team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/you-do-anything-you-can-for-your-team/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [Strategy is not a solo sport, even if you're the CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/strategy-is-not-a-solo-sport-even-if-you-re-the-ceo/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [I wish I had played team sports. I think every kid should. Teamwork builds character - teaches people about leadership and cooperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-rocca/i-wish-i-had-played-team-sports-i-think-every-kid-should-teamwork/) [Mo Rocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-rocca/) > [“It is not a question of 4-4-2 or 4-2-1-3, it is a question of having a team which is ordered, in which the players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-power/it-is-not-a-question-of-4-4-2-or-4-2-1-3-it-is-a-question-of-having-a/) [Ray Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-power/) > [In sports teams, apart from talk of sporting prowess and the imparting of inspirational thought, an extraordinary amount of time is spent discussing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/in-sports-teams-apart-from-talk-of-sporting-prowess-and-the-imparting/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) > [If you're going to preach dedication, work ethic, teamwork, unselfishness, and being part of a team to accomplish a common goal, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mullin/if-you-re-going-to-preach-dedication-work-ethic-teamwork/) [Chris Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mullin/) > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) ## More by AB de Villiers > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I love keeping. I'm in the game all the time. I see angles that I wouldn't normally see, and I feel part of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-love-keeping-i-m-in-the-game-all-the-time-i-see-angles-that-i/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [My personal goals have always and will always take a backseat to the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/my-personal-goals-have-always-and-will-always-take-a-backseat-to-the/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I know what makes me good, and it's not a bat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-know-what-makes-me-good-and-it-s-not-a-bat/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [There are big tournaments going on around the world, and some of them you cannot ignore because, financially, they make a huge difference in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/there-are-big-tournaments-going-on-around-the-world-and-some-of-them/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I've made peace with the fact that the World Cup will not define me. Yes, it would be nice to add that to what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-ve-made-peace-with-the-fact-that-the-world-cup-will-not-define-me/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I had a long run as a captain. I had some fantastic ups and also quite a few lows in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-had-a-long-run-as-a-captain-i-had-some-fantastic-ups-and-also-quite/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [The World Cup is a tough tournament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/the-world-cup-is-a-tough-tournament/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I know nothing will compare to that feeling of scoring hundreds in a big game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-know-nothing-will-compare-to-that-feeling-of-scoring-hundreds-in-a/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I accept that it is not always moonshine and roses, and you can't expect things must always go your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-accept-that-it-is-not-always-moonshine-and-roses-and-you-can-t/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I truly believe that players who tell you they don't feel the pressure of international cricket, of being away from home for months at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-truly-believe-that-players-who-tell-you-they-don-t-feel-the/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [I've always been a people pleaser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-ve-always-been-a-people-pleaser/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [You represent your country - that's the biggest honour ever. I had the privilege of doing that for more than 14 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/you-represent-your-country-that-s-the-biggest-honour-ever-i-had-the/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Even the thunderous master-blasters, like Andre Russell and MS Dhoni, men who now make scoring more than 20 runs per over look simple, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/even-the-thunderous-master-blasters-like-andre-russell-and-ms-dhoni/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Winning an official World Cup with the South African team had become my burning ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/winning-an-official-world-cup-with-the-south-african-team-had-become/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) [Explore all 102 AB de Villiers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's always been about the team; it's never been about myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "AB de Villiers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-never-been-about-myself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-never-been-about-myself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ab-de-villiers-5293_about_it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-nev_1500861.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ab-de-villiers-5293_about_it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-nev_1500861.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/ab-de-villiers-5293_about_it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-nev_1500861.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's always been about the team; it's never been about myself.” — AB de Villiers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "AB de Villiers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's always been about the team;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-never-been-about-myself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/it-s-always-been-about-the-team-it-s-never-been-about-myself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```