--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you make every game a life-and-death…" description: "\"“If you make every game a life-and-death thing, you’re going to have problems. You’ll be dead a lot.”\" — Dean Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/dean-smith-12433_death_if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death_2490317.jpg" --- # If you make every game a life-and-death thing, you’re… ![“If you make every game a life-and-death thing, you’re going to have problems. You’ll be dead a lot.” quote by Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/dean-smith-12433_death_if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death_2490317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/dean-smith-12433_death_if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death_2490317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/dean-smith-12433_death_if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death_2490317.jpg) > ““If you make every game a life-and-death thing, you’re going to have problems. You’ll be dead a lot.”” [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating every game as a life‑or‑death event creates undue pressure and burnout. **In simple terms:** Over‑intensifying competition harms well‑being. Key Takeaway Balance competition with perspective. Themes sports pressure mental health Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - coaching sessions - team meetings - player development Key Concepts psychology stress management Questions to Reflect On - How can you keep games fun while staying competitive? - What signs indicate stress is too high? A Different Perspective Excessive pressure can diminish enjoyment and performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-death/) ## Related quotes > [If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death-proposition-you-re-going-to/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [“If you treat every situation as a life and death matter, you'll die a lot of times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-treat-every-situation-as-a-life-and-death-matter-you-ll-die-a/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [If you treat every situation as a life and death matter, youll die a lot of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-treat-every-situation-as-a-life-and-death-matter-youll-die-a/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [If you've made a lot of negative seeds, and not a lot of positive seeds, even though you meet with the dharma, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-ve-made-a-lot-of-negative-seeds-and-not-a-lot-of-positive/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Me and Dr. Dre didn't speak for a while because I was going through my problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-storch/me-and-dr-dre-didn-t-speak-for-a-while-because-i-was-going-through-my/) [Scott Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-storch/) > [Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/most-people-spend-more-time-and-energy-going-around-problems-than-in/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Unless we confront our history, unless we deal with it and move forward, not with recrimination, and move forward then we're always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mundine/unless-we-confront-our-history-unless-we-deal-with-it-and-move/) [Warren Mundine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mundine/) > [I am always going to have problems with the paparazzi. I have had two men outside my house for the last two years, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-am-always-going-to-have-problems-with-the-paparazzi-i-have-had-two/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [The reality is that we are going to have problems with water in this century. And the fact that we are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/the-reality-is-that-we-are-going-to-have-problems-with-water-in-this/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [There's no solution to life, there's going to be problems no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/there-s-no-solution-to-life-there-s-going-to-be-problems-no-matter/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [People died while going through the same problems you're going through now, if I was you, I'd Thank God right now!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-died-while-going-through-the-same-problems-you-re-going/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Death is the only thing in life that you absolutely have to be aware of as it's happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/death-is-the-only-thing-in-life-that-you-absolutely-have-to-be-aware/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Because death is the only thing that could have ever kept him from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/because-death-is-the-only-thing-that-could-have-ever-kept-him-from-you/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Death is the only thing we haven't succeeded in completely vulgarizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/death-is-the-only-thing-we-haven-t-succeeded-in-completely-vulgarizing/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [There is no death. The thing that we call death Is but another, sadder name for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-stoddard/there-is-no-death-the-thing-that-we-call-death-is-but-another-sadder/) [Richard Henry Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-stoddard/) ## More by Dean Smith > [You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/you-should-never-be-proud-of-doing-the-right-thing-you-should-just-do/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [“If you do what we ask you to do, the victories will belong to you, and the losses to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-do-what-we-ask-you-to-do-the-victories-will-belong-to-you-and/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The best way to build team chemistry is the way Rupp used to substitute, when they fouled out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-best-way-to-build-team-chemistry-is-the-way-rupp-used-to/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The real issue is not if a crossing is put in, but when. It would be negligent on the part of Union Pacific and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-real-issue-is-not-if-a-crossing-is-put-in-but-when-it-would-be/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [A leader's job is to develop committed followers. Bad leaders destroy their followers' sense of commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/a-leader-s-job-is-to-develop-committed-followers-bad-leaders-destroy/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The focus should be on the players. I'm here a long time. You can call me in the summer. Our seniors will be gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-focus-should-be-on-the-players-i-m-here-a-long-time-you-can-call/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [As soon as you try to describe a close friendship, it loses something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/as-soon-as-you-try-to-describe-a-close-friendship-it-loses-something/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The truly free person in society is a disciplined person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-truly-free-person-in-society-is-a-disciplined-person/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [I would never recruit a player who yells at his teammates, disrespected his high school coach, or scores 33 points a game and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-would-never-recruit-a-player-who-yells-at-his-teammates/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [I just think we shouldn't get into counting coaches' records. I've never been for that... but I know that's just American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-just-think-we-shouldn-t-get-into-counting-coaches-records-i-ve/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [A lion never roars after a kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/a-lion-never-roars-after-a-kill/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [“Play hard. Play smart. Play together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/play-hard-play-smart-play-together/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The most important thing in good leadership is truly caring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-most-important-thing-in-good-leadership-is-truly-caring/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [One player's selfish attitude can poison a locker room and make it hard, if not impossible, to establish team work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/one-player-s-selfish-attitude-can-poison-a-locker-room-and-make-it/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [I know a lawyer who'd love to retire and be an assistant coach. I mean, it's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-know-a-lawyer-who-d-love-to-retire-and-be-an-assistant-coach-i-mean/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) [Explore all 55 Dean Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you make every game a life-and-death thing, you’re going to have problems. You’ll be dead a lot.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dean Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death-thing-you-re-going-to-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death-thing-you-re-going-to-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/dean-smith-12433_death_if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death_2490317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/dean-smith-12433_death_if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death_2490317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/dean-smith-12433_death_if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death_2490317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you make every game a life-and-death thing, you’re going to have problems. You’ll be dead a lot.” — Dean Smith", "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": "Dean Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If you make every game a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death-thing-you-re-going-to-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-make-every-game-a-life-and-death-thing-you-re-going-to-have/#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 } } ] } ```