--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I learned one thing by playing…" description: "\"If I learned one thing by playing professional hockey for thirty-two years, it's that you have to love what you do. And that's not just true for sports..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/gordie-howe-18126_hockey_if-i-learned-one-thing-by-playing-profes_2489795.jpg" --- # If I learned one thing by playing professional hockey for… ![“If I learned one thing by playing professional hockey for thirty-two years, it's that you have to love what you do. And that's not just true for sports.” quote by Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/gordie-howe-18126_hockey_if-i-learned-one-thing-by-playing-profes_2489795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/gordie-howe-18126_hockey_if-i-learned-one-thing-by-playing-profes_2489795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/gordie-howe-18126_hockey_if-i-learned-one-thing-by-playing-profes_2489795.jpg) > “If I learned one thing by playing professional hockey for thirty-two years, it's that you have to love what you do. And that's not just true for sports.” [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Passion for one's work is essential for long-term success and fulfillment, beyond just athletics. **In simple terms:** Love what you do for lasting success. Key Takeaway Cultivate passion in your career. Themes purpose career fulfillment Mood inspired determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - coaching - entrepreneurship - creative projects - team leadership Key Concepts intrinsic motivation identity commitment Questions to Reflect On - What drives your passion daily? - How can you sustain love for your work during setbacks? A Different Perspective Passion alone may not overcome external constraints like market demand. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Sports have always been a huge part of my life and my conversations. It is a thrill and an honor to be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/sports-have-always-been-a-huge-part-of-my-life-and-my-conversations/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [I always wanted to play professional hockey. Every hockey player's dream, no matter at what level or what age, is to play professionally. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-belfour/i-always-wanted-to-play-professional-hockey-every-hockey-player-s/) [Ed Belfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-belfour/) > [If I weren't acting, I think I'd want to be a professional hockey player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-beaumon/if-i-weren-t-acting-i-think-i-d-want-to-be-a-professional-hockey/) [Sterling Beaumon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-beaumon/) > [When I broke into professional hockey at 17 I was told that I was too small and too slow and I wouldn't make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/when-i-broke-into-professional-hockey-at-17-i-was-told-that-i-was-too/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Since the beginning, I always loved the game. When you grow up in Montreal, one day you want to be a professional hockey player.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-lemieux/since-the-beginning-i-always-loved-the-game-when-you-grow-up-in/) [Mario Lemieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-lemieux/) > [My parents are from the former Soviet Union, from Ukraine, and I grew up wanting to be a professional hockey player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-polsky/my-parents-are-from-the-former-soviet-union-from-ukraine-and-i-grew/) [Gabe Polsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-polsky/) > [Well, I've got something to tell you, In my last life I was a Spanish Count and one of the things I loved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-gratton/well-i-ve-got-something-to-tell-you-in-my-last-life-i-was-a-spanish/) Gilles Gratton > [I am like the Jack Nicholson of the Kings - every single game. If there was a game tonight I wouldn't be here. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/i-am-like-the-jack-nicholson-of-the-kings-every-single-game-if-there/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [My job is to suggest and ratify and use any expertise that I might have gained over the 23 years in professional hockey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-hull/my-job-is-to-suggest-and-ratify-and-use-any-expertise-that-i-might/) [Bobby Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-hull/) > [For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a professional hockey player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-lemieux/for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-wanted-to-be-a-professional-hockey/) [Mario Lemieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-lemieux/) > [I adore Twitter to the end of time. It is a wonderful thing, mainly for professional hockey coverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harper/i-adore-twitter-to-the-end-of-time-it-is-a-wonderful-thing-mainly-for/) [Luke Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harper/) > [I wanted to play professional hockey, man. But when I acted, I thought, 'Well, okay, maybe I do have something here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-haim/i-wanted-to-play-professional-hockey-man-but-when-i-acted-i-thought/) [Corey Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-haim/) > [My dad was a great athlete growing up, and he could never fulfill his dreams of playing professional baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/my-dad-was-a-great-athlete-growing-up-and-he-could-never-fulfill-his/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [When I first got to college, in my mind, I was going to end up playing professional football. When I tell people this story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-adepo/when-i-first-got-to-college-in-my-mind-i-was-going-to-end-up-playing/) [Jovan Adepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-adepo/) > [I probably realized when I was maybe 13 years of age that I could make a living out of playing professional sport and from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-folau/i-probably-realized-when-i-was-maybe-13-years-of-age-that-i-could/) [Israel Folau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-folau/) ## More by Gordie Howe > [My philosophy is never start talking about 'if,' 'and,' 'but' or the past, because 90 percent of what follows will be negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/my-philosophy-is-never-start-talking-about-if-and-but-or-the-past/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [The first time I met Wayne Gretzky... he never said anything back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/the-first-time-i-met-wayne-gretzky-he-never-said-anything-back/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [I don't want to retire, because you stay retired for an awfully long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/i-don-t-want-to-retire-because-you-stay-retired-for-an-awfully-long/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [If you make it anywhere in life, you owe that success to the people along the way who stuck up for you, or made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/if-you-make-it-anywhere-in-life-you-owe-that-success-to-the-people/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [I like to think that I'm a family man first and a professional athlete second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/i-like-to-think-that-i-m-a-family-man-first-and-a-professional/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [The kid looks good in his first game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/the-kid-looks-good-in-his-first-game/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [People say I'm henpecked. Well, let them say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/people-say-i-m-henpecked-well-let-them-say-it/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [Growing up, I probably raised a bit more hell than I should have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/growing-up-i-probably-raised-a-bit-more-hell-than-i-should-have/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [I always tell kids, you have two eyes and one mouth. Keep two open and one closed. You never learn anything if you're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/i-always-tell-kids-you-have-two-eyes-and-one-mouth-keep-two-open-and/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [I'm aware that not everyone approved of how I played, but I don't think any apologies are in order. Early in my career, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/i-m-aware-that-not-everyone-approved-of-how-i-played-but-i-don-t/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [Growing up during the Depression, we didn't have much, but we had each other, we had our friends, and that was pretty much all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/growing-up-during-the-depression-we-didn-t-have-much-but-we-had-each/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [Everybody whose anybody in hockey has played in Hershey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/everybody-whose-anybody-in-hockey-has-played-in-hershey/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [American professional athletes are bilingual; they speak English and profanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/american-professional-athletes-are-bilingual-they-speak-english-and/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [It doesn't matter whether I'm in an NHL arena, at a local rink, or on a sheet of ice in the middle of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/it-doesn-t-matter-whether-i-m-in-an-nhl-arena-at-a-local-rink-or-on-a/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [I might have some quibbles with the way the game is played today, but at its core, I know that hockey will always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/i-might-have-some-quibbles-with-the-way-the-game-is-played-today-but/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) [Explore all 35 Gordie Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) ## More Hockey quotes > [We don't want you at the rink, we don't want you in the stadium, we don't want you to watch hockey,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-roenick/we-don-t-want-you-at-the-rink-we-don-t-want-you-in-the-stadium-we-don/) [Jeremy Roenick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-roenick/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [I really don't think you need a letter on your jersey to be a leader on a hockey club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/i-really-don-t-think-you-need-a-letter-on-your-jersey-to-be-a-leader/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [My hope, it's not only my hope, but all of the NHL hopes to raise hockey in China because it's a good country to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/my-hope-it-s-not-only-my-hope-but-all-of-the-nhl-hopes-to-raise/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [I was a big fan of Grant Fuhr. I was a big Oilers fan growing up. I started out playing goal, but there wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarome-iginla/i-was-a-big-fan-of-grant-fuhr-i-was-a-big-oilers-fan-growing-up-i/) [Jarome Iginla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarome-iginla/) > [I somewhere along the way became fascinated with exploring characters who are willing to put themselves into violent situations, whether it's football, hockey, boxing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-berg/i-somewhere-along-the-way-became-fascinated-with-exploring-characters/) [Peter Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-berg/) > [I have always been interested in finding new ways to play and have looked at handball keepers and ice hockey goal-minders. It helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-neuer/i-have-always-been-interested-in-finding-new-ways-to-play-and-have/) [Manuel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-neuer/) > [I'm a little bit superstitious, and I think that just comes from playing hockey. I won't avoid the number thirteen. A big one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-m-a-little-bit-superstitious-and-i-think-that-just-comes-from/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [Without the support of my mom, Marlene, I would not be the person I am. She has been my main supporter throughout my career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-avery/without-the-support-of-my-mom-marlene-i-would-not-be-the-person-i-am/) [Sean Avery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-avery/) > [Everything was set for us to play a real good game. Then we left the dressing room and everything went to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-fraser/everything-was-set-for-us-to-play-a-real-good-game-then-we-left-the/) Curt Fraser > [We have always been taught that hockey is our national game, but it is only in general knowledge books and not on official papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandeep-singh/we-have-always-been-taught-that-hockey-is-our-national-game-but-it-is/) [Sandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandeep-singh/) > [Baseball doesn't seem very important on a day like this...When you live in the United States and you think it's the greatest country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-hunsicker/baseball-doesn-t-seem-very-important-on-a-day-like-this-when-you-live/) Gerry Hunsicker > [I love hockey, and I don't love it for any other reason than when I get out there and play, I enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fehr/i-love-hockey-and-i-don-t-love-it-for-any-other-reason-than-when-i/) [Brendan Fehr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fehr/) > [You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-don-t-have-enough-talent-to-win-on-talent-alone/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) [Browse all 1,685 Hockey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I learned one thing by playing professional hockey for thirty-two years, it's that you have to love what you do. 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