--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a spectator, you get to watch…" description: "\"As a spectator, you get to watch everything, but I'd much rather be playing than watching. I'll have time to watch later in my career.\" — Landon Donovan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/landon-donovan-9605_careers_as-a-spectator-you-get-to-watch-everythi_1626847.jpg" --- # As a spectator, you get to watch everything, but I'd much… ![“As a spectator, you get to watch everything, but I'd much rather be playing than watching. I'll have time to watch later in my career.” quote by Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/landon-donovan-9605_careers_as-a-spectator-you-get-to-watch-everythi_1626847.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/landon-donovan-9605_careers_as-a-spectator-you-get-to-watch-everythi_1626847.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/landon-donovan-9605_careers_as-a-spectator-you-get-to-watch-everythi_1626847.jpg) > “As a spectator, you get to watch everything, but I'd much rather be playing than watching. I'll have time to watch later in my career.” [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing actively yields growth, while watching is passive; choose participation over observation. **In simple terms:** Play rather than just watch. Key Takeaway Engage directly in your field. Themes sports personal development experience Mood enthusiastic reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - training sessions - team practice - skill workshops Key Concepts active learning career planning Questions to Reflect On - Will you prioritize doing over observing? - How does active participation shape your career? A Different Perspective Spectating may limit skill acquisition and personal fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Cricket, the whole thing, playing, watching, being part of the Gaieties, has been a central feature of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/cricket-the-whole-thing-playing-watching-being-part-of-the-gaieties/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [When Virat Kohli plays, wherever you are you will come and watch that because he is playing. That is his impact. When you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/when-virat-kohli-plays-wherever-you-are-you-will-come-and-watch-that/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [There are a lot of players when I watch them playing I say, 'Amazing, I want to do like them.' But not to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kimmich/there-are-a-lot-of-players-when-i-watch-them-playing-i-say-amazing-i/) [Joshua Kimmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-kimmich/) > [When I'm not training or playing, I'm watching football or watching something football-related on my phone, or about our next rival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-jesus/when-i-m-not-training-or-playing-i-m-watching-football-or-watching/) [Gabriel Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-jesus/) > [If I had a choice between playing and watching, then I would always decide to play each and every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kimmich/if-i-had-a-choice-between-playing-and-watching-then-i-would-always/) [Joshua Kimmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-kimmich/) > [My real experience with video games was watching other people play. That's why a lot of my work isn't really about playing. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-arcangel/my-real-experience-with-video-games-was-watching-other-people-play/) [Cory Arcangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-arcangel/) > [... I was merely a disinterested spectator at the Banquet of Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-dundy/i-was-merely-a-disinterested-spectator-at-the-banquet-of-life/) [Elaine Dundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-dundy/) > [The canvas upon which the artist paints is the spectator's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/okakura-kakuzo/the-canvas-upon-which-the-artist-paints-is-the-spectator-s-mind/) [Okakura Kakuzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/okakura-kakuzo/) > [I believe that the artist doesn't know what he does. I attach even more importance to the spectator than to the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/i-believe-that-the-artist-doesn-t-know-what-he-does-i-attach-even/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Don't live life as a spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-baumgartner/don-t-live-life-as-a-spectator/) [Felix Baumgartner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-baumgartner/) > [The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/the-creative-act-is-not-performed-by-the-artist-alone-the-spectator/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Producing Bob Dylan was pretty much a spectator sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kooper/producing-bob-dylan-was-pretty-much-a-spectator-sport/) [Al Kooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kooper/) > [The ultimate justification of the work of art is to help the spectator to become a work of art himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/the-ultimate-justification-of-the-work-of-art-is-to-help-the/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [My thinking was that today's spectator is so well-versed in film language that all theories about suspense, as argued by Dreyer and Hitchcock, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-dumont/my-thinking-was-that-today-s-spectator-is-so-well-versed-in-film/) [Bruno Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-dumont/) > [There cannot be any communication except through form. If there is no form, you cannot create emotion in the spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-resnais/there-cannot-be-any-communication-except-through-form-if-there-is-no/) [Alain Resnais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-resnais/) ## More by Landon Donovan > [I don't know about the rest of the world, but I know in our region everyone is gunning to beat us. We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-know-about-the-rest-of-the-world-but-i-know-in-our-region/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [It's got to be harder in real life to win a World Cup. But depending on if you play World Class level on FIFA,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/it-s-got-to-be-harder-in-real-life-to-win-a-world-cup-but-depending/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [Unfortunately, I think there's not enough education about hydration. When I was young, we knew nothing about it. We all know that there's cases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/unfortunately-i-think-there-s-not-enough-education-about-hydration/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [Ten years ago, the level was nowhere near what it is today. (on soccer in the United States)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/ten-years-ago-the-level-was-nowhere-near-what-it-is-today-on-soccer/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [My brother and I have always had this theory that, as stupid as it sounds, in video games, there is a certain hand-eye coordination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/my-brother-and-i-have-always-had-this-theory-that-as-stupid-as-it/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [I think all players reach a point in their career where it's natural to lose some of that hunger, that desire, to sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-think-all-players-reach-a-point-in-their-career-where-it-s-natural/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [I think about the things I control and do them well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-think-about-the-things-i-control-and-do-them-well/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [I sure am handsome. I can't lie. This is one handsome guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-sure-am-handsome-i-can-t-lie-this-is-one-handsome-guy/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [I don't think in terms of legacy or that kind of stuff. I've always thought that'll take care of itself if I did everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-think-in-terms-of-legacy-or-that-kind-of-stuff-i-ve-always/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [The biggest thing for me with charity is awareness. Obviously as an athlete, I have an opportunity to make people more aware. The average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/the-biggest-thing-for-me-with-charity-is-awareness-obviously-as-an/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [There have been weeks when I've not been hydrating properly or not eating properly or training too hard. When I do that, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/there-have-been-weeks-when-i-ve-not-been-hydrating-properly-or-not/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [That's a part that's always a challenge for athletes: trying to keep the passion alive while knowing it's still your job. There's no question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/that-s-a-part-that-s-always-a-challenge-for-athletes-trying-to-keep/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [I've got a lot to prove to a lot of people, including myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-ve-got-a-lot-to-prove-to-a-lot-of-people-including-myself/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [You put a lot of pressure on your defenders to be able to hold the fort when you go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/you-put-a-lot-of-pressure-on-your-defenders-to-be-able-to-hold-the/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [To imagine being in Germany having a home crowd is kind of silly, but we'll take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/to-imagine-being-in-germany-having-a-home-crowd-is-kind-of-silly-but/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) [Explore all 71 Landon Donovan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) ## More Careers quotes > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. That's also why I decided against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-frahm/the-only-thing-i-try-to-watch-carefully-is-that-i-never-lose-the-love/) [Nils Frahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-frahm/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) Robbin Crosby > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Everything I've been through, everything I'm about to go through in my career and my life, if my family wasn't with me and didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-malone/everything-i-ve-been-through-everything-i-m-about-to-go-through-in-my/) [Karl Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-malone/) > [An image has stuck for most of my career and it isn't flattering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-fowler/an-image-has-stuck-for-most-of-my-career-and-it-isn-t-flattering/) [Robbie Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-fowler/) Browse all 6,154 Careers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a spectator, you get to watch everything, but I'd much rather be playing than watching. 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