--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'll always respect my opponents, but…" description: "\"I'll always respect my opponents, but there will be no high-fives or shaking hands or smiles there.\" — Gilbert Burns" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/gilbert-burns-6818_always_i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-the_2212263.jpg" --- # I'll always respect my opponents, but there will be no… ![“I'll always respect my opponents, but there will be no high-fives or shaking hands or smiles there.” quote by Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/gilbert-burns-6818_always_i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-the_2212263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/gilbert-burns-6818_always_i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-the_2212263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/gilbert-burns-6818_always_i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-the_2212263.jpg) > “I'll always respect my opponents, but there will be no high-fives or shaking hands or smiles there.” [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respect opponents but maintain competitive distance; avoid friendly gestures that could signal weakness. **In simple terms:** Respect opponents, stay competitive. Key Takeaway Maintain focus and boundaries in competition. Themes competition respect boundaries psychology sportsmanship strategy Mood intense focused strategic Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - MMA fights - boxing matches - team sports - business negotiations - political debates Key Concepts Combat sports psychology professional rivalry mental toughness Questions to Reflect On - When is friendliness strategic? - How does distance affect performance? A Different Perspective Excessive distance may damage relationships and sportsmanship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Ll Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-respect-690273/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Opponents High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents-high-4903877/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-opponents-371822/) [Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiles/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [I go hunting for my opponents high up the field, and I put stock in physical one-on-ones and winning individual duels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/i-go-hunting-for-my-opponents-high-up-the-field-and-i-put-stock-in/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) > [You gain respect in your opponents' minds when you win a lot of matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casper-ruud/you-gain-respect-in-your-opponents-minds-when-you-win-a-lot-of-matches/) [Casper Ruud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casper-ruud/) > [Being involved in competition is a privilege and an opportunity. Seek to make the most of that opportunity by pushing yourself to the limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/being-involved-in-competition-is-a-privilege-and-an-opportunity-seek/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [I have so much respect for my opponents; many of them watched the races as little children and were supporting me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentino-rossi/i-have-so-much-respect-for-my-opponents-many-of-them-watched-the/) [Valentino Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentino-rossi/) > [I respect my opponents, I learned that from life. I used to think I would step in there, throw one punch and the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-nunes/i-respect-my-opponents-i-learned-that-from-life-i-used-to-think-i/) [Amanda Nunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-nunes/) > [I respect all opponents because they all go through similar things. There's weight cut, every camp is hard and sometimes there are injuries we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-luque/i-respect-all-opponents-because-they-all-go-through-similar-things/) [Vicente Luque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-luque/) > [I respect all my opponents, but I fear no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-respect-all-my-opponents-but-i-fear-no-one/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [We have to respect the opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/we-have-to-respect-the-opponents/) [Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/) > [We have to be humble and respect our opponents who are stronger than us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/we-have-to-be-humble-and-respect-our-opponents-who-are-stronger-than/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [I want to keep playing at the kind of level where I'll get respect from everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pau-gasol/i-want-to-keep-playing-at-the-kind-of-level-where-i-ll-get-respect/) [Pau Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pau-gasol/) > [It does not matter if you are short, tall, black, white, thin, fat...as long as you'll respect me, I will respect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asli/it-does-not-matter-if-you-are-short-tall-black-white-thin-fat-as-long/) [Asli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asli/) > [James Brown really taught me a lot - his lyrics and his performance and whatever he does when he's onstage. I'll always call him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/james-brown-really-taught-me-a-lot-his-lyrics-and-his-performance-and/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [Don't be sneaky about it...Just be real & I'll respect you a lot more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-sneaky-about-it-just-be-real-i-ll-respect-you-a-lot-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you respect yourself, you'll respect others; if you love yourself, you'll love others! You see, it all starts with you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-respect-yourself-you-ll-respect-others-if-you-love-yourself/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The day you care more about essential rights than essential oils, I'll respect your spirituality. The day you care more about sharing a hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-day-you-care-more-about-essential-rights-than-essential-oils-i-ll/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Gilbert Burns > [Every time that I go to the sparring session and I need a good look, Kamaru was a good look for me always and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/every-time-that-i-go-to-the-sparring-session-and-i-need-a-good-look/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [I'm willing to face tough competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-m-willing-to-face-tough-competition/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [I have nothing against Masvidal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-have-nothing-against-masvidal/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [You know, I've trained with a lot of great guys that have been in the sport for so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/you-know-i-ve-trained-with-a-lot-of-great-guys-that-have-been-in-the/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [I've shown that I got power, I got heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-ve-shown-that-i-got-power-i-got-heart/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [I want to fight three or four times in a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-want-to-fight-three-or-four-times-in-a-year/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [Jiu Jitsu has changed many things in my life and I really want to help build that community strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/jiu-jitsu-has-changed-many-things-in-my-life-and-i-really-want-to/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [If you want to grapple, that's my house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/if-you-want-to-grapple-that-s-my-house/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [Signing with the UFC wasn't a dream. It's a goal. I set this goal and I reached it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/signing-with-the-ufc-wasn-t-a-dream-it-s-a-goal-i-set-this-goal-and-i/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [I train with the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-train-with-the-best-in-the-world/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [That's the difference between the champion and the No. 1, No. 2 contender - the ability to make decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/that-s-the-difference-between-the-champion-and-the-no-1-no-2/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [I don't see an easy path for Jon Jones in the heavyweight division.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-don-t-see-an-easy-path-for-jon-jones-in-the-heavyweight-division/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [That's what I want. I'm in the sport to be the best, to be the champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/that-s-what-i-want-i-m-in-the-sport-to-be-the-best-to-be-the-champion/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [My cardio is one of the weapons I never had to use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/my-cardio-is-one-of-the-weapons-i-never-had-to-use/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [My submission game is always on point, it's always there. But to be a better mixed martial artist, I need to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/my-submission-game-is-always-on-point-it-s-always-there-but-to-be-a/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) [Explore all 97 Gilbert Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [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/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'll always respect my opponents, but there will be no high-fives or shaking hands or smiles there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gilbert Burns" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-there-will-be-no-high-fives-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-there-will-be-no-high-fives-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/gilbert-burns-6818_always_i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-the_2212263.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/gilbert-burns-6818_always_i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-the_2212263.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/gilbert-burns-6818_always_i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-the_2212263.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'll always respect my opponents, but there will be no high-fives or shaking hands or smiles there.” — Gilbert Burns", "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": "Gilbert Burns", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'll always respect my opponents, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-there-will-be-no-high-fives-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/i-ll-always-respect-my-opponents-but-there-will-be-no-high-fives-or/#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 } } ] } ```