--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes, I wish we were all amateurs…" description: "\"Sometimes, I wish we were all amateurs again. I'd play for nothing. Ab-so-lute-ly free. But that's not the system.\" — Dan Marino" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/dan-marino-15895_amateurs_sometimes-i-wish-we-were-all-amateurs-ag_263475.jpg" --- # Sometimes, I wish we were all amateurs again. I'd play for… ![“Sometimes, I wish we were all amateurs again. I'd play for nothing. Ab-so-lute-ly free. But that's not the system.” quote by Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/dan-marino-15895_amateurs_sometimes-i-wish-we-were-all-amateurs-ag_263475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/dan-marino-15895_amateurs_sometimes-i-wish-we-were-all-amateurs-ag_263475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/dan-marino-15895_amateurs_sometimes-i-wish-we-were-all-amateurs-ag_263475.jpg) > “Sometimes, I wish we were all amateurs again. I'd play for nothing. Ab-so-lute-ly free. But that's not the system.” [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True freedom in play comes from abandoning external expectations and embracing pure enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Play for joy, not reward. Key Takeaway Play without expectations. Themes freedom play joy Mood nostalgic free thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - recreational sports - music improvisation - hobby projects Key Concepts intrinsic motivation purity of intention Questions to Reflect On - When did you last play just for fun? - What would you do if no one judged you? A Different Perspective Systems and pressures often re‑impose constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amateurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amateurs/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Dealing with Jazz at Lincoln Center and its board of directors, who are so great, and then seeing how these Rock Hall guys operate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/dealing-with-jazz-at-lincoln-center-and-its-board-of-directors-who/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [“Inspiration is for amateurs,” Close says. “The rest of us just show up and get to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-currey/inspiration-is-for-amateurs-close-says-the-rest-of-us-just-show-up/) [Mason Currey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-currey/) > [Inspiration is for amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/inspiration-is-for-amateurs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They were chosen for their perfect ignorance of these things. That is how the system works. In the end, the lawyers and judges happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/they-were-chosen-for-their-perfect-ignorance-of-these-things-that-is/) [William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/) > [We're all amateurs when it comes to love. Don't be too hard on each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/we-re-all-amateurs-when-it-comes-to-love-don-t-be-too-hard-on-each/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Conor is not emulating me. He has to be his own man and learn his trade from the start. He will fight in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/conor-is-not-emulating-me-he-has-to-be-his-own-man-and-learn-his/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [You know, criticism began as the province of amateurs, of wealthy men who liked the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/you-know-criticism-began-as-the-province-of-amateurs-of-wealthy-men/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [There's a myth among amateurs, optimists and fools that beyond a certain level of achievement, famous artists retire to some kind of Elysium where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-matousek/there-s-a-myth-among-amateurs-optimists-and-fools-that-beyond-a/) [Mark Matousek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-matousek/) > [Inner beauty is for amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-taintor/inner-beauty-is-for-amateurs/) [Anne Taintor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-taintor/) > [Amateurs look for challenges; professionals look for easy trades. Losers get high from the action; the pros look for the best odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-elder/amateurs-look-for-challenges-professionals-look-for-easy-trades/) [Alexander Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-elder/) > [A lot of amateurs are terrified of going up against a player who is clearly better than they are. They never play their best,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fuzzy-zoeller/a-lot-of-amateurs-are-terrified-of-going-up-against-a-player-who-is/) [Fuzzy Zoeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fuzzy-zoeller/) > [Most amateurs are so worried about mis-hitting the shot or hitting it off line, they don't make an aggressive move. You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [Even virtue is an art; and even its devotees are divided into those who practise it and those who are merely amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/even-virtue-is-an-art-and-even-its-devotees-are-divided-into-those/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [I love mixing amateurs and professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lasse-hallstrom/i-love-mixing-amateurs-and-professionals/) [Lasse Hallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lasse-hallstrom/) > [Baseball’s absolute unpredictability makes amateurs of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-angell/baseball-s-absolute-unpredictability-makes-amateurs-of-us-all/) [Roger Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-angell/) ## More by Dan Marino > [We didn't win a Super Bowl together, and that's something I'll always regret - not knowing what that feels like. But you and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/we-didn-t-win-a-super-bowl-together-and-that-s-something-i-ll-always/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [You have to feel you're the best at what you do. You don't have to come out and say it. But you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/you-have-to-feel-you-re-the-best-at-what-you-do-you-don-t-have-to/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/i-ve-been-a-dolphin-for-17-years-and-i-ll-be-a-dolphin-for-the-rest/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [We're not running the ball again until we get ahead. Shula was calling the plays, but I told them, 'I don't care what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/we-re-not-running-the-ball-again-until-we-get-ahead-shula-was-calling/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [I know I've got to just keep throwing the ball. That's what I do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/i-know-i-ve-got-to-just-keep-throwing-the-ball-that-s-what-i-do-best/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [Nobody can make you a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/nobody-can-make-you-a-loser/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [I think I have a passion for playing the game. I love to play, and I want to play at a high level. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/i-think-i-have-a-passion-for-playing-the-game-i-love-to-play-and-i/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [As a young man God blessed me with a special talent to throw a football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/as-a-young-man-god-blessed-me-with-a-special-talent-to-throw-a/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [When I look at tricks, I look at Michael Vick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/when-i-look-at-tricks-i-look-at-michael-vick/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [We were talking about how old quarterbacks can't throw before 10 am... Practice starts too early for us. Wake me up in the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/we-were-talking-about-how-old-quarterbacks-can-t-throw-before-10-am/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [I have always said that I want to finish my career with the Dolphins and this put me closer to that goal. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/i-have-always-said-that-i-want-to-finish-my-career-with-the-dolphins/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [I look at it this way. I'm not putting age limits on what I can do. As long as I can do the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/i-look-at-it-this-way-i-m-not-putting-age-limits-on-what-i-can-do-as/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [Leadership comes by the example you set through your work. It begins from the way you are perceived as a worker and the respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/leadership-comes-by-the-example-you-set-through-your-work-it-begins/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [The scoreboard can't make you a loser. If you walk off the field with your head up, you don't lose. You don't hang your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/the-scoreboard-can-t-make-you-a-loser-if-you-walk-off-the-field-with/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [I try to play my game and that's being emotional because I'm that kind of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/i-try-to-play-my-game-and-that-s-being-emotional-because-i-m-that/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) [Explore all 41 Dan Marino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) ## More Amateurs quotes > [Dealing with Jazz at Lincoln Center and its board of directors, who are so great, and then seeing how these Rock Hall guys operate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/dealing-with-jazz-at-lincoln-center-and-its-board-of-directors-who/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [I love mixing amateurs and professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lasse-hallstrom/i-love-mixing-amateurs-and-professionals/) [Lasse Hallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lasse-hallstrom/) > [Even virtue is an art; and even its devotees are divided into those who practise it and those who are merely amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/even-virtue-is-an-art-and-even-its-devotees-are-divided-into-those/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [Most amateurs are so worried about mis-hitting the shot or hitting it off line, they don't make an aggressive move. You'd be surprised how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-bradley/most-amateurs-are-so-worried-about-mis-hitting-the-shot-or-hitting-it/) [Keegan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-bradley/) > [A lot of amateurs are terrified of going up against a player who is clearly better than they are. They never play their best,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fuzzy-zoeller/a-lot-of-amateurs-are-terrified-of-going-up-against-a-player-who-is/) [Fuzzy Zoeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fuzzy-zoeller/) > [Amateurs look for challenges; professionals look for easy trades. Losers get high from the action; the pros look for the best odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-elder/amateurs-look-for-challenges-professionals-look-for-easy-trades/) [Alexander Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-elder/) > [Inner beauty is for amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-taintor/inner-beauty-is-for-amateurs/) [Anne Taintor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-taintor/) > [There's a myth among amateurs, optimists and fools that beyond a certain level of achievement, famous artists retire to some kind of Elysium where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-matousek/there-s-a-myth-among-amateurs-optimists-and-fools-that-beyond-a/) [Mark Matousek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-matousek/) > [You know, criticism began as the province of amateurs, of wealthy men who liked the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/you-know-criticism-began-as-the-province-of-amateurs-of-wealthy-men/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [Conor is not emulating me. He has to be his own man and learn his trade from the start. He will fight in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/conor-is-not-emulating-me-he-has-to-be-his-own-man-and-learn-his/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [We're all amateurs when it comes to love. Don't be too hard on each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/we-re-all-amateurs-when-it-comes-to-love-don-t-be-too-hard-on-each/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“They were chosen for their perfect ignorance of these things. That is how the system works. In the end, the lawyers and judges happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/they-were-chosen-for-their-perfect-ignorance-of-these-things-that-is/) [William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/) > [Inspiration is for amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/inspiration-is-for-amateurs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Inspiration is for amateurs,” Close says. “The rest of us just show up and get to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-currey/inspiration-is-for-amateurs-close-says-the-rest-of-us-just-show-up/) [Mason Currey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-currey/) > [Baseball’s absolute unpredictability makes amateurs of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-angell/baseball-s-absolute-unpredictability-makes-amateurs-of-us-all/) [Roger Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-angell/) [Browse all 127 Amateurs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amateurs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes, I wish we were all amateurs again. 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