--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was playing, I wanted to win more…" description: "\"When I was playing, I wanted to win more than anything.\" — John Smoltz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-smoltz-6392_anything_when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more_911223.jpg" --- # When I was playing, I wanted to win more than anything. ![“When I was playing, I wanted to win more than anything.” quote by John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-smoltz-6392_anything_when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more_911223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-smoltz-6392_anything_when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more_911223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-smoltz-6392_anything_when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more_911223.jpg) > “When I was playing, I wanted to win more than anything.” [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The desire to win can dominate one's mindset, shaping actions and priorities. **In simple terms:** Winning becomes a primary focus. Key Takeaway Channel competitive drive wisely. Themes competition ambition focus Mood determined intense Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - Professional sports - career advancement - personal challenges Key Concepts Sports psychology goal orientation Questions to Reflect On - What does winning mean to you beyond trophies? - How do you balance ambition with well‑being? A Different Perspective Excessive focus may cause burnout or neglect of other values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-wanted-484278/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-win-271355/) [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) ## Related quotes > [I had team-mates who didn't care if the team won or lost because they were not playing. I never wanted to be like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-had-team-mates-who-didn-t-care-if-the-team-won-or-lost-because-they/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [I don't want a player that's content with not playing... But we wanted to play the guys that got us here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/i-don-t-want-a-player-that-s-content-with-not-playing-but-we-wanted/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [It was a competitive household. If I wanted to win at something, I had to work for it. It made me understand I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/it-was-a-competitive-household-if-i-wanted-to-win-at-something-i-had/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [I wanted to win a championship. We won one, but we should have won more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-wanted-to-win-a-championship-we-won-one-but-we-should-have-won-more/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I was trying to come to Houston to try to win games after being in losing environments. I wanted to win. That was my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-wood/i-was-trying-to-come-to-houston-to-try-to-win-games-after-being-in/) [Christian Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-wood/) > [I've always wanted to win in my hometown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-creamer/i-ve-always-wanted-to-win-in-my-hometown/) [Paula Creamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-creamer/) > [That was one thing I wanted to win because, my mom, she didn't really know much else in music, but the Grammys were special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paul/that-was-one-thing-i-wanted-to-win-because-my-mom-she-didn-t-really/) [Vinnie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paul/) > [“It felt to me as if we were all involved in some kind of twisted, South-of-the-Border, Darwinian, "Survival of The Fittest" experiment. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/it-felt-to-me-as-if-we-were-all-involved-in-some-kind-of-twisted/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [With the Cubs, they've gone so long without a World Series championship, they wanted to win every day. I want that too, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hee-seop-choi/with-the-cubs-they-ve-gone-so-long-without-a-world-series/) [Hee-seop Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hee-seop-choi/) > [I wanted to win the Tour de France. And when I won it once, I wanted to do it again, and again, and again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-armstrong/i-wanted-to-win-the-tour-de-france-and-when-i-won-it-once-i-wanted-to/) [Lance Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-armstrong/) > [Dallas was top-notch professional and they wanted to win every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-crowder/dallas-was-top-notch-professional-and-they-wanted-to-win-every-game/) [Jae Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-crowder/) > [Whoever we played, Mauricio wanted to win. Whatever team he put out, he fully believed that team could win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-rose/whoever-we-played-mauricio-wanted-to-win-whatever-team-he-put-out-he/) [Danny Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-rose/) > [We weren't here to hope and hang on. We wanted to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/we-weren-t-here-to-hope-and-hang-on-we-wanted-to-win/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [“You knew that if you survived that accident, there's no way I could ever leave you again. Not unless I want your blood on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-demetrios/you-knew-that-if-you-survived-that-accident-there-s-no-way-i-could/) [Heather Demetrios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-demetrios/) > [“I wanted to win. No, that’s not right. I simply didn’t want to lose. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/i-wanted-to-win-no-that-s-not-right-i-simply-didn-t-want-to-lose-and/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## More by John Smoltz > [A definition of a good broadcast is when 50 percent of the people think you're rooting for one team and the other 50 percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/a-definition-of-a-good-broadcast-is-when-50-percent-of-the-people/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Pitching for the Boston Red Sox proved to be one of the few challenges in my career that I was unable to overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/pitching-for-the-boston-red-sox-proved-to-be-one-of-the-few/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I gave up a lot of money to stay with the Braves four different times and I don't regret any second of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-gave-up-a-lot-of-money-to-stay-with-the-braves-four-different-times/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I've learned so much through golf and myself. I've been frustrated a lot, but I've proved a lot, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-ve-learned-so-much-through-golf-and-myself-i-ve-been-frustrated-a/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [If the players don't produce, and aren't in the position to be evaluated correctly, then a manager's job of winning or losing baseball games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/if-the-players-don-t-produce-and-aren-t-in-the-position-to-be/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [When you go into the minor leagues and you take a kid out after 75 to 90 pitches, what do you expect him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/when-you-go-into-the-minor-leagues-and-you-take-a-kid-out-after-75-to/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I don't know that we'll ever see a 3,000-strikeout guy again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-don-t-know-that-we-ll-ever-see-a-3-000-strikeout-guy-again/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [To be honest with you, the two greatest games I ever pitched resulted in losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/to-be-honest-with-you-the-two-greatest-games-i-ever-pitched-resulted/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I never grunted, and never overthrew a pitch when I was a starter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-never-grunted-and-never-overthrew-a-pitch-when-i-was-a-starter/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I try to squeeze in a round of golf here and there when I get a chance to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-try-to-squeeze-in-a-round-of-golf-here-and-there-when-i-get-a/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Yeah, I've never been afraid of any challenge, and I'm either all in or all out, because that's the mindset I've always had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/yeah-i-ve-never-been-afraid-of-any-challenge-and-i-m-either-all-in-or/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Going to the pen was something I had to learn to do. It wasn't something I wanted to do. If it made our team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/going-to-the-pen-was-something-i-had-to-learn-to-do-it-wasn-t/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Alan Trammell came right up to me. I was sitting in a locker, looking like I don't belong here. He shook my hand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/alan-trammell-came-right-up-to-me-i-was-sitting-in-a-locker-looking/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I love to compete. I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-love-to-compete-i-really-do/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Golf was a great way to be better in baseball. And now golf is something I enjoy, and a way to better experience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/golf-was-a-great-way-to-be-better-in-baseball-and-now-golf-is/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) [Explore all 99 John Smoltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) [Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was playing, I wanted to win more than anything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Smoltz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more-than-anything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anything" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more-than-anything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-smoltz-6392_anything_when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more_911223.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-smoltz-6392_anything_when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more_911223.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-smoltz-6392_anything_when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more_911223.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was playing, I wanted to win more than anything.” — John Smoltz", "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": "John Smoltz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was playing, I wanted...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more-than-anything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/when-i-was-playing-i-wanted-to-win-more-than-anything/#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 } } ] } ```