--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're not playing, you're probably…" description: "\"If you're not playing, you're probably trying to find excuses when it's probably your fault.\" — Matt Doherty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/matt-doherty-5801_excuses_if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-tr_564221.jpg" --- # If you're not playing, you're probably trying to find… ![“If you're not playing, you're probably trying to find excuses when it's probably your fault.” quote by Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/matt-doherty-5801_excuses_if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-tr_564221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/matt-doherty-5801_excuses_if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-tr_564221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/matt-doherty-5801_excuses_if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-tr_564221.jpg) > “If you're not playing, you're probably trying to find excuses when it's probably your fault.” [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding play leads to excuses; taking action reveals responsibility. **In simple terms:** Excuses arise when you avoid action. Key Takeaway Choose to act, not excuse. Themes responsibility action excuse Mood motivational direct Type coaching inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - personal goals - project planning Key Concepts sports leadership Questions to Reflect On - What excuses do you make? - How can you turn excuses into actions? A Different Perspective Excuses can also stem from fear, not just laziness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) ## Related quotes > [I don't feel my best right now, but at the same time, I'm not trying to find any excuses or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-santana/i-don-t-feel-my-best-right-now-but-at-the-same-time-i-m-not-trying-to/) [Johan Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-santana/) > [As people who know me know, probably to a fault, I am usually not without thoughts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/as-people-who-know-me-know-probably-to-a-fault-i-am-usually-not/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [I'm not sure what's wrong...but it's probably your fault!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemant-smarty/i-m-not-sure-what-s-wrong-but-it-s-probably-your-fault/) [Hemant Smarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemant-smarty/) > [The way he was playing, he probably could have scored on Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-williams/the-way-he-was-playing-he-probably-could-have-scored-on-jesus/) [Mo Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-williams/) > [“so if you go to a King Tut exhibit someday and notice cracks or burn marks on the artifacts, or maybe a statue with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serpent-s-shadow-rick-riordan/so-if-you-go-to-a-king-tut-exhibit-someday-and-notice-cracks-or-burn/) [serpent's shadow Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serpent-s-shadow-rick-riordan/) > [“Stella bit her lower lip. “That’s probably my fault. I shouldn’t have said all those things last night. I mean, what happened to Jaxson,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-west/stella-bit-her-lower-lip-that-s-probably-my-fault-i-shouldn-t-have/) Heather West > [If I don't f\*ck with you anymore, then it's probably your fault. Because I don't just cut people off for no reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-don-t-f-ck-with-you-anymore-then-it-s-probably-your-fault/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When Indian economy was growing at the rate of 8 to 9 percent, I think everybody was quite happy. Even when there were defects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/when-indian-economy-was-growing-at-the-rate-of-8-to-9-percent-i-think/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [Do not make excuses, whether it's your fault or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-make-excuses-whether-it-s-your-fault-or-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Many persons have been confused and discouraged at the very outset of the study by the great variety and the delicate distinctions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/many-persons-have-been-confused-and-discouraged-at-the-very-outset-of/) [Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/) > [I've been in 30 car crashes, none of 'em my fault, I swear on a stack of midgets... OK, they were probably all my fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/i-ve-been-in-30-car-crashes-none-of-em-my-fault-i-swear-on-a-stack-of/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [I don't blame anyone .. I did this to myself .. It's my fault .. Everything is my FAULT ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nurnizz95/i-don-t-blame-anyone-i-did-this-to-myself-it-s-my-fault-everything-is/) Nurnizz95 > [Sometimes I feel that my message has not been clearly heard. But that is not my fault because I feel like too much is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-murad/sometimes-i-feel-that-my-message-has-not-been-clearly-heard-but-that/) [Nadia Murad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-murad/) > [“It's my fault. I am forgetting too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-my-fault-i-am-forgetting-too-much/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## More by Matt Doherty > [I did a video interview straight after the Scottish Cup Final and I reacted to some abuse from Twitter. Dangerous, of course. The Hibs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-did-a-video-interview-straight-after-the-scottish-cup-final-and-i/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [People have just got to do it themselves in their own minds, believe when they get the chance they are going to score. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/people-have-just-got-to-do-it-themselves-in-their-own-minds-believe/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [There's no point in playing underage football until you are 23. You've got to be able to play in games, cope in men's football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/there-s-no-point-in-playing-underage-football-until-you-are-23-you-ve/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I might look back and think, 'was I really that bad?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-might-look-back-and-think-was-i-really-that-bad/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I started working for my dad - he had his own company in carpet upholstery cleaning. I was doing whatever he said. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-started-working-for-my-dad-he-had-his-own-company-in-carpet/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I just have to put even more focus and concentration in for 90 minutes and try to be mistake-free, while also expressing myself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-just-have-to-put-even-more-focus-and-concentration-in-for-90/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [You can be 19 or 20 and playing reserve team football, be able to say 'I played at,' say, 'Manchester United,' even though you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/you-can-be-19-or-20-and-playing-reserve-team-football-be-able-to-say/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [There are things I need to improve on and things I need to adapt to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/there-are-things-i-need-to-improve-on-and-things-i-need-to-adapt-to/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I just felt I needed to be in the best shape possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-just-felt-i-needed-to-be-in-the-best-shape-possible/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I've survived a lot of managers, so I must have been doing something right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-ve-survived-a-lot-of-managers-so-i-must-have-been-doing-something/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [There will be players that I've never played against, it will be interesting to see how I get on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/there-will-be-players-that-i-ve-never-played-against-it-will-be/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I'm just a confident player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-m-just-a-confident-player/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [You want to play as many games as possible, you want to stay sharp, and there is nothing like game fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/you-want-to-play-as-many-games-as-possible-you-want-to-stay-sharp-and/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [You can see it in games with Moutinho, he never panics on the ball and makes the right decision pretty much every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/you-can-see-it-in-games-with-moutinho-he-never-panics-on-the-ball-and/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [Growing up I always wanted to play in the Premier League and now I get to resume living my dream, which is playing games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/growing-up-i-always-wanted-to-play-in-the-premier-league-and-now-i/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) [Explore all 100 Matt Doherty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) ## More Excuses quotes > [You will find that the more successful the individual, the less inclined he is to make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-joseph-schwartz/you-will-find-that-the-more-successful-the-individual-the-less/) [David Joseph Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-joseph-schwartz/) > [I wasn't a bad kid. My dad left when I was young, so I didn't have much discipline, not that I'm making excuses. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-dyer/i-wasn-t-a-bad-kid-my-dad-left-when-i-was-young-so-i-didn-t-have-much/) [Danny Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-dyer/) > [Sometimes you don't need to hear their excuses or what they have to say for themselves because their actions already spoke the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/sometimes-you-don-t-need-to-hear-their-excuses-or-what-they-have-to/) [Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/) > [Most people don't reach their goals because reaching their goals requires them to do things that they don't want to do. You might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/most-people-don-t-reach-their-goals-because-reaching-their-goals/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Existence of emotions also are nothing without excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/existence-of-emotions-also-are-nothing-without-excuses/) Mak\_786 > [The only thing stopping you from getting it done is your excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/the-only-thing-stopping-you-from-getting-it-done-is-your-excuses/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I'm not a sympathetic guy when I see people throwing their lives away and using their life's obstacles as excuses to fail. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/i-m-not-a-sympathetic-guy-when-i-see-people-throwing-their-lives-away/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [It is impossible to need excuses when the focus of your life shifts from 'What's in it for me?' to 'How can I serve?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-is-impossible-to-need-excuses-when-the-focus-of-your-life-shifts/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Excuses cost a dime and that's why the poor could afford a lot of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/excuses-cost-a-dime-and-that-s-why-the-poor-could-afford-a-lot-of-it/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/excuses-are-the-nails-used-to-build-a-house-of-failure/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I will never attempt to even begin to make excuses for what I did in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-storey/i-will-never-attempt-to-even-begin-to-make-excuses-for-what-i-did-in/) [Peter Storey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-storey/) > [“If they want to be in your life, they'll find a way to be in your life. Otherwise they'll find excuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/if-they-want-to-be-in-your-life-they-ll-find-a-way-to-be-in-your-life/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [“Your explanation is good, but your herring doesn't fry, as we say in Ramaldah," he exploded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ashling/your-explanation-is-good-but-your-herring-doesn-t-fry-as-we-say-in/) [Andrew Ashling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ashling/) > [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I’ve got to stop this. Stop worrying about the why. Stop forcing what was happening into the realm of impossible. Stop hiding behind excuses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deatri-king-bey/i-ve-got-to-stop-this-stop-worrying-about-the-why-stop-forcing-what/) [Deatri King-Bey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deatri-king-bey/) [Browse all 1,069 Excuses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're not playing, you're probably trying to find excuses when it's probably your fault.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Doherty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-trying-to-find-excuses-when-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excuses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-trying-to-find-excuses-when-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/matt-doherty-5801_excuses_if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-tr_564221.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/matt-doherty-5801_excuses_if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-tr_564221.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/matt-doherty-5801_excuses_if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-tr_564221.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're not playing, you're probably trying to find excuses when it's probably your fault.” — Matt Doherty", "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": "Matt Doherty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're not playing, you're probably...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-trying-to-find-excuses-when-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/if-you-re-not-playing-you-re-probably-trying-to-find-excuses-when-it/#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 } } ] } ```