---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You should always give 100%. If you do…"
description: "\"You should always give 100%. If you do that then no-one can ask any more of you. Someone once said to me when I was a kid: 'If you're asked to do ten s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/alan-shearer-9467_asks_you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-tha_1366837.jpg"
---

#  You should always give 100%. If you do that then no-one…

![“You should always give 100%. If you do that then no-one can ask any more of you. Someone once said to me when I was a kid: 'If you're asked to do ten sprints, by all means do 11 but never do nine because you're only cheating yourself'.” quote by Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/alan-shearer-9467_asks_you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-tha_1366837.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/alan-shearer-9467_asks_you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-tha_1366837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/alan-shearer-9467_asks_you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-tha_1366837.jpg)

> “You should always give 100%. If you do that then no-one can ask any more of you. Someone once said to me when I was a kid: 'If you're asked to do ten sprints, by all means do 11 but never do nine because you're only cheating yourself'.”

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Giving full effort eliminates excuses; exceeding expectations prevents self‑cheating.

**In simple terms:** Give your all to avoid excuses.

Key Takeaway

Commit fully to exceed your own standards.

Themes

effort integrity self‑discipline

Mood

determined reflective

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- training
- match day
- personal goals

Key Concepts

Performance psychology goal setting self‑expectations

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “giving 100%” mean to you?
- How do you recover after pushing beyond limits?

A Different Perspective

Perfectionism can cause burnout if not balanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Cheating yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating-yourself/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/)

## Related quotes

> [Hill sprints are good for everyone!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-goucher/hill-sprints-are-good-for-everyone/)

[Kara Goucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-goucher/)

> [At Milan when I was younger, I worked a lot on the leg press because I'd lost a bit of my natural speed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/at-milan-when-i-was-younger-i-worked-a-lot-on-the-leg-press-because-i/)

[Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/)

> [I love to run, but training can be hard, especially with a family and a crazy travel schedule. I often do sprints with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/i-love-to-run-but-training-can-be-hard-especially-with-a-family-and-a/)

[Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/)

> [Financial winners don't run sprints, they run marathons. They don't rush. They do it step by step over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/financial-winners-don-t-run-sprints-they-run-marathons-they-don-t/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

> [My players on defense must have a hand-up on every shot. If not, they run sprints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-majerus/my-players-on-defense-must-have-a-hand-up-on-every-shot-if-not-they/)

[Rick Majerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-majerus/)

> [Double gold means I'm king of the sprints. It shows I'm the best sprinter around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/double-gold-means-i-m-king-of-the-sprints-it-shows-i-m-the-best/)

[Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/)

> [I like the sprints so much because it's very explosive, very aggressive, and quite physical sometimes as well. On top of that you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-backstedt/i-like-the-sprints-so-much-because-it-s-very-explosive-very/)

[Magnus Backstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-backstedt/)

> [You can do as many sprints as you want but there's nothing like playing in a 90-minute soccer game. There's no better way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-wambach/you-can-do-as-many-sprints-as-you-want-but-there-s-nothing-like/)

[Abby Wambach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-wambach/)

> [I want to be the king of sprints because I think I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asafa-powell/i-want-to-be-the-king-of-sprints-because-i-think-i-am/)

[Asafa Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asafa-powell/)

> [I'm running marathons while these lames running sprints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wall/i-m-running-marathons-while-these-lames-running-sprints/)

[Paul Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wall/)

> [I didn't win any bunch sprints. But I won in solo breakaways, I won time-trials, I won in the mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-didn-t-win-any-bunch-sprints-but-i-won-in-solo-breakaways-i-won/)

[Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/)

> [Genetically I think I'm more equipped for long distances than high-intensity sprints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/genetically-i-think-i-m-more-equipped-for-long-distances-than-high/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [You will never see me on the bike or treadmill for long periods of time; I just use them for one-minute sprints between sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vogue-williams/you-will-never-see-me-on-the-bike-or-treadmill-for-long-periods-of/)

[Vogue Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vogue-williams/)

> [If I'm just doing the sprints and not have such a massive program, I can really pour everything into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mckeon/if-i-m-just-doing-the-sprints-and-not-have-such-a-massive-program-i/)

[Emma McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mckeon/)

> [I could always see as a kid that I was good at short sprints, running, throwing things far, jumping... anything that required a burst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hoy/i-could-always-see-as-a-kid-that-i-was-good-at-short-sprints-running/)

[Chris Hoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hoy/)

## More by Alan Shearer

> [You never get fed up scoring goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/you-never-get-fed-up-scoring-goals/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [It doesn't matter that I didn't win a trophy because I did it my way and I lived the dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/it-doesn-t-matter-that-i-didn-t-win-a-trophy-because-i-did-it-my-way/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [There are not many times when I get nervous, but I do a little bit with penalties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/there-are-not-many-times-when-i-get-nervous-but-i-do-a-little-bit/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [If you want to have a great party at Wembley, don't invite the Germans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/if-you-want-to-have-a-great-party-at-wembley-don-t-invite-the-germans/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [You only get one chance of an England debut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/you-only-get-one-chance-of-an-england-debut/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [Management interests me at some stage in my life, I have always said that. When that will be I really couldn't tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/management-interests-me-at-some-stage-in-my-life-i-have-always-said/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [If people don't like my style, then I can't do anything about that. I have been like that since I first entered into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/if-people-don-t-like-my-style-then-i-can-t-do-anything-about-that-i/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [There is another side to me which people don't often see, but it's very hard for me to show that. When I do interviews,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/there-is-another-side-to-me-which-people-don-t-often-see-but-it-s/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [People say he doesn't score a lot of goals with his head, but does he really have to with the ability he has in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/people-say-he-doesn-t-score-a-lot-of-goals-with-his-head-but-does-he/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [At times they don't like you to kick them and they feel you're not allowed to kick them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/at-times-they-don-t-like-you-to-kick-them-and-they-feel-you-re-not/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [The fans have what they want. They want entertainment, they want passion and they want commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/the-fans-have-what-they-want-they-want-entertainment-they-want/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [My motto in life is 'if you give 100 per cent then no one can ask any more'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/my-motto-in-life-is-if-you-give-100-per-cent-then-no-one-can-ask-any/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [I made no secret of the fact I'd love to stay in football and to do that, you need badges. I'm starting them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/i-made-no-secret-of-the-fact-i-d-love-to-stay-in-football-and-to-do/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [I always practise penalties, but what people don't understand is that you can never recreate that pressure situation that you're under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/i-always-practise-penalties-but-what-people-don-t-understand-is-that/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

> [I want to be around when Newcastle win a trophy because I want to see this place lift off. It will be one hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/i-want-to-be-around-when-newcastle-win-a-trophy-because-i-want-to-see/)

[Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

[Explore all 72 Alan Shearer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/)

## More Asks quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/)

[Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/)

> [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/)

[Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/)

> [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

> [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/)

[Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/)

> [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/)

[Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/)

Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You should always give 100%. If you do that then no-one can ask any more of you. Someone once said to me when I was a kid: 'If you're asked to do ten sprints, by all means do 11 but never do nine because you're only cheating yourself'.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alan Shearer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-that-then-no-one-can-ask-any/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Asks"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-that-then-no-one-can-ask-any/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/alan-shearer-9467_asks_you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-tha_1366837.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/alan-shearer-9467_asks_you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-tha_1366837.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/alan-shearer-9467_asks_you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-tha_1366837.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You should always give 100%. If you do that then no-one can ask any more of you. Someone once said to me…” — Alan Shearer",
                "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": "Alan Shearer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You should always give 100%. If...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-that-then-no-one-can-ask-any/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/you-should-always-give-100-if-you-do-that-then-no-one-can-ask-any/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
