--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I prefer to play and lose rather than…" description: "\"I prefer to play and lose rather than win, because I know in advance I'm going to win.\" — Eric Cantona" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/eric-cantona-3882_play_i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-wi_2026815.jpg" --- # I prefer to play and lose rather than win, because I know… ![“I prefer to play and lose rather than win, because I know in advance I'm going to win.” quote by Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/eric-cantona-3882_play_i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-wi_2026815.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/eric-cantona-3882_play_i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-wi_2026815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/eric-cantona-3882_play_i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-wi_2026815.jpg) > “I prefer to play and lose rather than win, because I know in advance I'm going to win.” [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing competition over victory, valuing the experience of play and learning from loss. **In simple terms:** Playing and losing teaches more than winning. Key Takeaway Embrace the learning process of play. Themes competition learning humility process growth Mood enthusiastic philosophical Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - personal hobbies - creative endeavors - skill development Key Concepts psychology of sport risk taking mindset resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does losing improve future performance? - What does play teach beyond outcomes? A Different Perspective Winning can still be valuable for confidence building. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't play to lose, only to win or learn. Mostly learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rude/i-don-t-play-to-lose-only-to-win-or-learn-mostly-learn/) [Mark Rude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rude/) > [In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-the-casino-the-cardinal-rule-is-to-keep-them-playing-and-to-keep/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [You must take the bad before you get the good. You must endure failure before you experience success, and you must lose before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/you-must-take-the-bad-before-you-get-the-good-you-must-endure-failure/) [Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/) > [To be successful, you need results in a row. You can't win, lose, win, lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-klopp/to-be-successful-you-need-results-in-a-row-you-can-t-win-lose-win-lose/) [Jurgen Klopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-klopp/) > [I know about the reality, you either lose or win. And what do I want? I want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pereira/i-know-about-the-reality-you-either-lose-or-win-and-what-do-i-want-i/) [Alex Pereira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pereira/) > [The last game on earth is in progress. And when you lose, you win. And when you win, you can't lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-last-game-on-earth-is-in-progress-and-when-you-lose-you-win-and/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I prefer to play the bad guy - it gives you more freedom as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-prefer-to-play-the-bad-guy-it-gives-you-more-freedom-as-an-actor/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [At the end, what do you prefer? To play beautifully and stay in the same place, the round of 16, or play ugly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-hernandez/at-the-end-what-do-you-prefer-to-play-beautifully-and-stay-in-the/) [Javier Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-hernandez/) > [I prefer to play in smaller venues because I like the intimacy, the connection with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-einaudi/i-prefer-to-play-in-smaller-venues-because-i-like-the-intimacy-the/) [Ludovico Einaudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-einaudi/) > [I would prefer to play left-wing, striker or even goalkeeper - any other position - rather than sitting on the bench as a central…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kimmich/i-would-prefer-to-play-left-wing-striker-or-even-goalkeeper-any-other/) [Joshua Kimmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-kimmich/) > [Rather than just sit there, I would prefer to get out and play football. Brighton have let me do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/rather-than-just-sit-there-i-would-prefer-to-get-out-and-play/) [Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/) > [I would prefer to play for and against an attacking team, but I am now used to playing against defensive teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/i-would-prefer-to-play-for-and-against-an-attacking-team-but-i-am-now/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) > [It is well known I prefer to play through the middle, so when I get my opportunity, I just want to show what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-welbeck/it-is-well-known-i-prefer-to-play-through-the-middle-so-when-i-get-my/) [Danny Welbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-welbeck/) > [I prefer not to focus on the stats and numbers because if we see the stats maybe we prefer not to play. I prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javi-gracia/i-prefer-not-to-focus-on-the-stats-and-numbers-because-if-we-see-the/) [Javi Gracia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javi-gracia/) > [I prefer to play against the best players and the best teams and the best coaches. Never personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/i-prefer-to-play-against-the-best-players-and-the-best-teams-and-the/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) ## More by Eric Cantona > [Children go where they find sincerity and authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/children-go-where-they-find-sincerity-and-authenticity/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [A good goal is one that is important and beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/a-good-goal-is-one-that-is-important-and-beautiful/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I didn't study; I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-didn-t-study-i-live/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Every experience makes you a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/every-experience-makes-you-a-man/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I don't know where my medals are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-don-t-know-where-my-medals-are/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Whatever happens, there are always things you could have done better. You score two goals and you usually feel you could have done better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/whatever-happens-there-are-always-things-you-could-have-done-better/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Great businessmen are creators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/great-businessmen-are-creators/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I observe the world and the people surrounding me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-observe-the-world-and-the-people-surrounding-me/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [We can be eaten by techniques and forget what we have inside of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/we-can-be-eaten-by-techniques-and-forget-what-we-have-inside-of-us/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I want to look forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-want-to-look-forward/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I don't think the world of football is so serious. It's important to have distance about things and about yourself. If we believe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-don-t-think-the-world-of-football-is-so-serious-it-s-important-to/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I was always being creative. I could never have played a defensive role because I would have been forced to destroy the other player's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-was-always-being-creative-i-could-never-have-played-a-defensive/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I didn't want really to be involved in a normal soccer club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-didn-t-want-really-to-be-involved-in-a-normal-soccer-club/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I know that I have a face, a look, people aren't used to seeing. A presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-know-that-i-have-a-face-a-look-people-aren-t-used-to-seeing-a/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I'm proud of what I achieved there, but a life built on memories is not much of a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-m-proud-of-what-i-achieved-there-but-a-life-built-on-memories-is/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) [Explore all 120 Eric Cantona quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) ## More Lose quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Who wants a stylus. You have to get em and put em away, and you lose em. Yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/who-wants-a-stylus-you-have-to-get-em-and-put-em-away-and-you-lose-em/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [“Do you fear to lose me? Have I become so essential to you that you will treasure me always and never take me for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dokey/do-you-fear-to-lose-me-have-i-become-so-essential-to-you-that-you/) [Cameron Dokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dokey/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Lose one friend, lose all friend, lose yourself. A little manifesto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uknown/lose-one-friend-lose-all-friend-lose-yourself-a-little-manifesto/) Uknown > [When you lose a person you love so much, surviving the loss is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiano-ronaldo/when-you-lose-a-person-you-love-so-much-surviving-the-loss-is/) [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiano-ronaldo/) > [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/) > [When You Lose Someone You Love, You Never Get Over It. You Just Get Used To It.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/when-you-lose-someone-you-love-you-never-get-over-it-you-just-get/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-lose-yet-gain-others-gain-and-yet-lose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [Some things are sacred. Until you act like they're not. Then you lose them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/some-things-are-sacred-until-you-act-like-they-re-not-then-you-lose/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) Browse all 6,442 Lose quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I prefer to play and lose rather than win, because I know in advance I'm going to win.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Cantona" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-win-because-i-know-in-advance-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lose" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-win-because-i-know-in-advance-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/eric-cantona-3882_play_i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-wi_2026815.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/eric-cantona-3882_play_i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-wi_2026815.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/eric-cantona-3882_play_i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-wi_2026815.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I prefer to play and lose rather than win, because I know in advance I'm going to win.” — Eric Cantona", "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": "Eric Cantona", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I prefer to play and lose...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-win-because-i-know-in-advance-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-prefer-to-play-and-lose-rather-than-win-because-i-know-in-advance-i/#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 } } ] } ```