--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Breathing first, winning next." description: "\"Breathing first, winning next.\" — George Steinbrenner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/george-steinbrenner-13410_breathing_breathing-first-winning-next-2218449_2218449.png" --- # Breathing first, winning next. ![“Breathing first, winning next.” quote by George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/george-steinbrenner-13410_breathing_breathing-first-winning-next-2218449_2218449.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/george-steinbrenner-13410_breathing_breathing-first-winning-next-2218449_2218449.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/george-steinbrenner-13410_breathing_breathing-first-winning-next-2218449_2218449.png) > “Breathing first, winning next.” [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritize calm breathing before focusing on victory; mental composure precedes success. **In simple terms:** Breathe first, then win. Key Takeaway Practice breathing to improve performance. Themes sports mindfulness performance leadership Mood determined focused Type motivational practical When to use this quote - athletic training - public speaking - high pressure tasks - competition Key Concepts psychology physiology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How does breathing affect focus? - What other mental habits boost winning? A Different Perspective Breathing alone won't guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/winning-is-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-after-breathing/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [Sometimes, Soraya Sleeping next to me, I lay in bed and listened to the screen door swinging open and shut with the breeze, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/sometimes-soraya-sleeping-next-to-me-i-lay-in-bed-and-listened-to-the/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [The most serious problem facing humankind is climate change. All of these people breathing and burning our atmosphere has led to an extraordinarily dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/the-most-serious-problem-facing-humankind-is-climate-change-all-of/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [I've done my best, and I begin to understand what is meant by 'the joy of strife'. Next to trying and winning, the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-done-my-best-and-i-begin-to-understand-what-is-meant-by-the-joy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always win fools first. They talk much, and what they have once uttered they will stick to; whereas there is always time, up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/always-win-fools-first-they-talk-much-and-what-they-have-once-uttered/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [It's foolish to bet on a horse without talking to him first. I know it seems silly to ask a horse who's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-allen/it-s-foolish-to-bet-on-a-horse-without-talking-to-him-first-i-know-it/) [Gracie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-allen/) > [I came back and in '63, I was at the British Open, trying to win my first British Open. And I had what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-came-back-and-in-63-i-was-at-the-british-open-trying-to-win-my/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I like to hit the gym early in the morning. I feel better throughout the day when I get in a workout first thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/i-like-to-hit-the-gym-early-in-the-morning-i-feel-better-throughout/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [I'm really looking forward to getting back and winning some matches but I'm not thinking about the U.S. Open yet, just getting through my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-rusedski/i-m-really-looking-forward-to-getting-back-and-winning-some-matches/) [Greg Rusedski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-rusedski/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I know that I'm going to have to work hard, keep working hard, and not because of this victory think, "I'm back." I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-clijsters/i-know-that-i-m-going-to-have-to-work-hard-keep-working-hard-and-not/) [Kim Clijsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-clijsters/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-a-habit-unfortunately-so-is-losing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) ## More by George Steinbrenner > [He's the leader on this team, I know when Baltimore let us have him, they thought they were giving us a problem. I'll take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/he-s-the-leader-on-this-team-i-know-when-baltimore-let-us-have-him/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [I haven't always made the right decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/i-haven-t-always-made-the-right-decisions/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [I think about the next season right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/i-think-about-the-next-season-right-away/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [When you're entrusted with a tradition, you've got to protect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/when-you-re-entrusted-with-a-tradition-you-ve-got-to-protect-it/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [Let's not talk punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/let-s-not-talk-punishment/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [I don't want to be in the Hall of Fame. I don't think owners should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/i-don-t-want-to-be-in-the-hall-of-fame-i-don-t-think-owners-should-be/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [David Cone is in a class by himself with three or four other players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/david-cone-is-in-a-class-by-himself-with-three-or-four-other-players/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [I don't think that anybody should be suspended for life for anything, other than murder. How is it helping someone to say, 'You're done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/i-don-t-think-that-anybody-should-be-suspended-for-life-for-anything/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [In the end, I'll put my good acts up against those of anybody in this country. Anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/in-the-end-i-ll-put-my-good-acts-up-against-those-of-anybody-in-this/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [I'm really 95 percent Mr. Rogers, and only 5 percent Oscar the Grouch.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/i-m-really-95-percent-mr-rogers-and-only-5-percent-oscar-the-grouch/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [Once in a while, I played second base; once in a while, outfield. But those were just pickup games and softball leagues. So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/once-in-a-while-i-played-second-base-once-in-a-while-outfield-but/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [He says all the right things, like it's Jeter's team. I want to correct him on that - it's my team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/he-says-all-the-right-things-like-it-s-jeter-s-team-i-want-to-correct/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [Don't talk to me about aesthetics or tradition. Talk to me about what sells and what's good right now. And what the American people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/don-t-talk-to-me-about-aesthetics-or-tradition-talk-to-me-about-what/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [I haven't always done a good job, and I haven't always been successful - but I know that I have tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/i-haven-t-always-done-a-good-job-and-i-haven-t-always-been-successful/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [If you don't have a hernia yet then you're not pulling your own weight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/if-you-don-t-have-a-hernia-yet-then-you-re-not-pulling-your-own-weight/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) [Explore all 50 George Steinbrenner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Breathing first, winning next.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Steinbrenner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/breathing-first-winning-next/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breathing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/breathing-first-winning-next/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/george-steinbrenner-13410_breathing_breathing-first-winning-next-2218449_2218449.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/george-steinbrenner-13410_breathing_breathing-first-winning-next-2218449_2218449.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/george-steinbrenner-13410_breathing_breathing-first-winning-next-2218449_2218449.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Breathing first, winning next.” — George Steinbrenner", "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": "George Steinbrenner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Breathing first, winning next.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/breathing-first-winning-next/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/breathing-first-winning-next/#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 } } ] } ```