--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not up to me whether I win or lose…" description: "\"It is not up to me whether I win or lose. Ultimately, this might not be my day. And it is that philosophy towards sports, something that I really truly..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/apolo-ohno-7126_art_it-is-not-up-to-me-whether-i-win-or-lose_473548.png" --- # It is not up to me whether I win or lose. Ultimately, this… ![“It is not up to me whether I win or lose. Ultimately, this might not be my day. And it is that philosophy towards sports, something that I really truly live by. I am emotional. I want to win. I am hungry. I am a competitor. I have that fire. But deep down, I truly enjoy the art of competing so…” quote by Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/apolo-ohno-7126_art_it-is-not-up-to-me-whether-i-win-or-lose_473548.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/apolo-ohno-7126_art_it-is-not-up-to-me-whether-i-win-or-lose_473548.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/apolo-ohno-7126_art_it-is-not-up-to-me-whether-i-win-or-lose_473548.png) > “It is not up to me whether I win or lose. Ultimately, this might not be my day. And it is that philosophy towards sports, something that I really truly live by. I am emotional. I want to win. I am hungry. I am a competitor. I have that fire. But deep down, I truly enjoy the art of competing so much more than the result.” [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning is secondary to loving the competition itself; the drive comes from passion, not just outcomes. **In simple terms:** Enjoy the process more than the result. Key Takeaway Focus on the love of competition. Themes competition passion mindset Mood reflective energetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - training sessions - team sports - personal goal setting - career transitions Key Concepts sports psychology motivation resilience Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your drive? - How do you stay motivated after setbacks? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on winning can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Competitors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitors/) [Deep down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-down/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry/) [Inspirational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-sports/) [Live by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-by/) [Lose Ultimately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-ultimately-4088159/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-sports-1145344/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-win/) [Win Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-lose/) [Win or lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-or-lose/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [It's not whether you win or lose - but whether I win or lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-lyle/it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-but-whether-i-win-or-lose/) [Sandy Lyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-lyle/) > [I have a Ph.D. in philosophy and sports science. At 14, I went through this really tough Soviet training system. A lot of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/i-have-a-ph-d-in-philosophy-and-sports-science-at-14-i-went-through/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [I think the Greeks invented sports as an antidote to philosophy. In sports there are absolute rules. It's not, What about this? What about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-think-the-greeks-invented-sports-as-an-antidote-to-philosophy-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I had to put it on the line, but it was my Tour to win and mine to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cadel-evans/i-had-to-put-it-on-the-line-but-it-was-my-tour-to-win-and-mine-to-lose/) [Cadel Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cadel-evans/) > [The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/the-price-of-success-is-hard-work-dedication-to-the-job-at-hand/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [You can choose, don't confuse, win or lose, it's up to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/you-can-choose-don-t-confuse-win-or-lose-it-s-up-to-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [How you play shows some of your character how you win or lose shows all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-you-play-shows-some-of-your-character-how-you-win-or-lose-shows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In war, you win or lose, live or die - and the difference is just an eyelash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-you-win-or-lose-live-or-die-and-the-difference-is-just-an/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [We can't recover the loss of Yesterday but tomorrow is ours to win or lose, make it count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/we-can-t-recover-the-loss-of-yesterday-but-tomorrow-is-ours-to-win-or/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [In life, it is important to not be afraid to put yourself out there, win or lose. It is all about the spirit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bailey/in-life-it-is-important-to-not-be-afraid-to-put-yourself-out-there/) [Cynthia Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bailey/) > [When you win or lose, no-one dies: you win, or you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/when-you-win-or-lose-no-one-dies-you-win-or-you-lose/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) > [In football, you can win or lose. We always have to be together, with the same spirit we've always had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rodriguez/in-football-you-can-win-or-lose-we-always-have-to-be-together-with/) [James Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rodriguez/) > [We need to be behind Man United always when they win or lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-evra/we-need-to-be-behind-man-united-always-when-they-win-or-lose/) [Patrice Evra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-evra/) > [Win or lose, we go shopping after the election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/win-or-lose-we-go-shopping-after-the-election/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [Win or lose or draw, you always go back and critique your performance and say you could have done things better. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/win-or-lose-or-draw-you-always-go-back-and-critique-your-performance/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) ## More by Apolo Ohno > [When you reach that competing point, when you reach that time when the gun is about to go off, everyone's level is pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/when-you-reach-that-competing-point-when-you-reach-that-time-when-the/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [One things guys have to remember is consistency... You can't make up for three years of eating poorly in just one workout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/one-things-guys-have-to-remember-is-consistency-you-can-t-make-up-for/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I've always liked game shows - the competitive aspect and the character-driven personalities you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/i-ve-always-liked-game-shows-the-competitive-aspect-and-the-character/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I believe my father has and always will be the strongest influence in my life, as he has guided me on many paths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/i-believe-my-father-has-and-always-will-be-the-strongest-influence-in/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I could never focus on my upper body as a skater, so I'm enjoying having symmetrical upper and lower body muscle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/i-could-never-focus-on-my-upper-body-as-a-skater-so-i-m-enjoying/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [Broadcasting is definitely in my cards for the future, and I'm determined to work hard at it - to perfect it and create my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/broadcasting-is-definitely-in-my-cards-for-the-future-and-i-m/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [My first car was a Toyota 4Runner when I was 17. I paid for it myself. I was very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/my-first-car-was-a-toyota-4runner-when-i-was-17-i-paid-for-it-myself/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I think we should all be pursuing something of zero regrets, and how do we become greater than we were yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/i-think-we-should-all-be-pursuing-something-of-zero-regrets-and-how/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [The older I get, the more and more I notice I'm like my father. It's funny, because when I was younger I tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/the-older-i-get-the-more-and-more-i-notice-i-m-like-my-father-it-s/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [My girlfriend has been the ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/my-girlfriend-has-been-the-ice/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [You can't dwell on what happened. You can't live even a moment stewing in bitterness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/you-can-t-dwell-on-what-happened-you-can-t-live-even-a-moment-stewing/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [It's an individual sport, but collectively everybody shares the same motto that Ironman stands for: anything is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/it-s-an-individual-sport-but-collectively-everybody-shares-the-same/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I think so many times in our society we focus so much on just the end result; when we finally reach that point we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/i-think-so-many-times-in-our-society-we-focus-so-much-on-just-the-end/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [A lot of times, some of my best ideas happen when I'm running. That's when I do my best thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/a-lot-of-times-some-of-my-best-ideas-happen-when-i-m-running-that-s/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [For me, the '60s in the automotive industry was awesome. The cars are heavy, huge, rolling works of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/for-me-the-60s-in-the-automotive-industry-was-awesome-the-cars-are/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) [Explore all 94 Apolo Ohno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not up to me whether I win or lose. 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