--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not whether you win or lose, it's…" description: "\"“It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.”\" — Grantland Rice" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/grantland-rice-17354_football_it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-ho_433488.jpg" --- # It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the… ![“It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.” quote by Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/grantland-rice-17354_football_it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-ho_433488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/grantland-rice-17354_football_it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-ho_433488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/grantland-rice-17354_football_it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-ho_433488.jpg) > ““It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.”” [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The value of competition lies in the manner of participation, not merely in winning or losing. **In simple terms:** Play with integrity and effort, regardless of outcome. Key Takeaway Focus on effort and fairness. Themes sportsmanship ethics competition character Mood inspirational motivational Type sports ethical When to use this quote - team sports - business negotiations - academic projects - personal challenges Key Concepts fair play integrity process orientation Questions to Reflect On - What does “playing the game” mean to you? - How can you measure success beyond the scoreboard? A Different Perspective Winning can still be a valid goal when balanced with ethical conduct. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Win or lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-or-lose/) ## Related quotes > [You know that old expression "It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game". That line was definitely not coined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/you-know-that-old-expression-it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [Life is not a spectator sport; win, lose or draw, the game is in progress whether we want it to be or not. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-grey/life-is-not-a-spectator-sport-win-lose-or-draw-the-game-is-in/) [Meredith Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-grey/) > [Grantland Rice, the great sportswriter once said, 'It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.' Well Grantland Rice can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-autry/grantland-rice-the-great-sportswriter-once-said-it-s-not-whether-you/) [Gene Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-autry/) > [Love is a game.. You play it badly you lose, you cheat you lose, your too nice you lose, so how do u play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kagai-bass/love-is-a-game-you-play-it-badly-you-lose-you-cheat-you-lose-your-too/) Kagai Bass > [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/) > [We can't recover the loss of Yesterday but tomorrow is ours to win or lose, make it count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/we-can-t-recover-the-loss-of-yesterday-but-tomorrow-is-ours-to-win-or/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [In life, it is important to not be afraid to put yourself out there, win or lose. It is all about the spirit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bailey/in-life-it-is-important-to-not-be-afraid-to-put-yourself-out-there/) [Cynthia Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bailey/) > [When you win or lose, no-one dies: you win, or you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/when-you-win-or-lose-no-one-dies-you-win-or-you-lose/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) > [In football, you can win or lose. We always have to be together, with the same spirit we've always had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rodriguez/in-football-you-can-win-or-lose-we-always-have-to-be-together-with/) [James Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rodriguez/) > [We need to be behind Man United always when they win or lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-evra/we-need-to-be-behind-man-united-always-when-they-win-or-lose/) [Patrice Evra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-evra/) > [How you play shows some of your character how you win or lose shows all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-you-play-shows-some-of-your-character-how-you-win-or-lose-shows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can choose, don't confuse, win or lose, it's up to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/you-can-choose-don-t-confuse-win-or-lose-it-s-up-to-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [“Who ever said, ‘It’s not whether you win or lose that counts,’ probably lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/who-ever-said-it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-that-counts-probably/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [Win or lose, we go shopping after the election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/win-or-lose-we-go-shopping-after-the-election/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [In war, you win or lose, live or die - and the difference is just an eyelash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-you-win-or-lose-live-or-die-and-the-difference-is-just-an/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) ## More by Grantland Rice > [“The flame of the inn is dim tonight, Too many vacant chairs. The sun has lost too much of its light, Too many songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/the-flame-of-the-inn-is-dim-tonight-too-many-vacant-chairs-the-sun/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [A wise man makes his own decisions,but an ignorant man follows the public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/a-wise-man-makes-his-own-decisions-but-an-ignorant-man-follows-the/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [One might as well attempt to describe the smoothness of the wind as to paint a clear picture of his complete swing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/one-might-as-well-attempt-to-describe-the-smoothness-of-the-wind-as/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [Golf is 20 percent mechanics and technique. The other 80 pecent is philosophy, humor, tragedy, romance, melodrama, companionship, camaraderie, cussedness and conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/golf-is-20-percent-mechanics-and-technique-the-other-80-pecent-is/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [There is no type of miracle that can't happen at least once in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/there-is-no-type-of-miracle-that-can-t-happen-at-least-once-in-golf/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [Eighteen holes of match play will teach you more about your foe than nineteen years of dealing with him across the desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/eighteen-holes-of-match-play-will-teach-you-more-about-your-foe-than/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [All wars are planned by old men in council rooms apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/all-wars-are-planned-by-old-men-in-council-rooms-apart/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [Like life, golf can be humbling. However, little good comes from brooding about mistakes we've made. The next shot, in golf or in life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/like-life-golf-can-be-humbling-however-little-good-comes-from/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [I learned much more from defeat than I ever learned from winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/i-learned-much-more-from-defeat-than-i-ever-learned-from-winning/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [There are three types of golf: golf, tournament golf and Major championship golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/there-are-three-types-of-golf-golf-tournament-golf-and-major/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [Depend upon yourself. Make your judgement trustworthy by trusting it. You can develop good judgement as you do the muscles of your body -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/depend-upon-yourself-make-your-judgement-trustworthy-by-trusting-it/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [Eighteen holes of match play will teach you more about your foe than 18 years of dealing with him across a desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/eighteen-holes-of-match-play-will-teach-you-more-about-your-foe-than-2/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [This is the substance of our Plot-For those who play the Perfect Shot, There are ten thousand who do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/this-is-the-substance-of-our-plot-for-those-who-play-the-perfect-shot/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [I am the servant of my score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/i-am-the-servant-of-my-score/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [Few learn golf in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/few-learn-golf-in-a-lifetime/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) [Explore all 36 Grantland Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [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/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Grantland Rice" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-how-you-play-the-game/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-how-you-play-the-game/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/grantland-rice-17354_football_it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-ho_433488.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/grantland-rice-17354_football_it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-ho_433488.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/grantland-rice-17354_football_it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-ho_433488.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.” — Grantland Rice", "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": "Grantland Rice", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It's not whether you win or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-how-you-play-the-game/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/it-s-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-it-s-how-you-play-the-game/#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 } } ] } ```