--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew I could play and I thought I could…" description: "\"I knew I could play and I thought I could get away without working particularly hard because I could do stuff that other people couldn't.\" — Matt Le Ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/matt-le-tissier-31027_could_i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-coul_2201072.jpg" --- # I knew I could play and I thought I could get away without… ![“I knew I could play and I thought I could get away without working particularly hard because I could do stuff that other people couldn't.” quote by Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/matt-le-tissier-31027_could_i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-coul_2201072.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/matt-le-tissier-31027_could_i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-coul_2201072.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/matt-le-tissier-31027_could_i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-coul_2201072.jpg) > “I knew I could play and I thought I could get away without working particularly hard because I could do stuff that other people couldn't.” [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I believed my unique talent let me avoid hard work, but that was mistaken. **In simple terms:** Talent alone isn’t enough; effort matters. Key Takeaway Balance talent with dedication. Themes sports talent work ethic Mood motivational reflective Type sports personal development When to use this quote - training routines - skill improvement - team collaboration Key Concepts self-awareness career development Questions to Reflect On - How can you combine talent with effort? - What habits improve work ethic? A Different Perspective Overreliance on talent can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I suspect the base that I'm working from is not particularly one of inquiry, but of memory of what I did last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-suspect-the-base-that-i-m-working-from-is-not-particularly-one-of/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I keep thinking the bad guys will win in the end and take it all away, but somehow it all seems to keep working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scharpling/i-keep-thinking-the-bad-guys-will-win-in-the-end-and-take-it-all-away/) [Tom Scharpling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scharpling/) > [If I have free time I try and stay away from working at all. I work so much that I savour every second that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marko-djurdjevic/if-i-have-free-time-i-try-and-stay-away-from-working-at-all-i-work-so/) [Marko Djurdjevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marko-djurdjevic/) > [Most of the time when I'm in Australia I'm not really working, it seems. I'm just at home, getting on with renovating my house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/most-of-the-time-when-i-m-in-australia-i-m-not-really-working-it/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [I miss my kids sometimes and that can get me down when I've been away working, but then I wake up and recognize how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-miss-my-kids-sometimes-and-that-can-get-me-down-when-i-ve-been-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To get away from one's working environment is, in a sense, to get away from one's self; and this is often the chief advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-horton-cooley/to-get-away-from-one-s-working-environment-is-in-a-sense-to-get-away/) [Charles Horton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-horton-cooley/) > [“Some part of me knew that I could play this part well, or better than well. But I was almost afraid to play it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-cheaney/some-part-of-me-knew-that-i-could-play-this-part-well-or-better-than/) J. B. Cheaney > [I never had a problem with the people I was close to because I was playing football with them, and they knew I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-bronze/i-never-had-a-problem-with-the-people-i-was-close-to-because-i-was/) [Lucy Bronze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-bronze/) > [“But I knew how the play would come out. This was like a dress rehearsal after the show has closed down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/but-i-knew-how-the-play-would-come-out-this-was-like-a-dress/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [I think I was programmed to do good things when I came into the majors. I knew how to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mays/i-think-i-was-programmed-to-do-good-things-when-i-came-into-the/) [Willie Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mays/) > [Over the years, I played with a couple of spectacular guitar players, and playing with them has made me play better than I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/over-the-years-i-played-with-a-couple-of-spectacular-guitar-players/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Soundgarden and Metallica, The Ramones, Everclear... I think they all wanted to see if we still knew how to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/soundgarden-and-metallica-the-ramones-everclear-i-think-they-all/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“I was playing it existential, and maybe a bit stupid, but it was the only way I knew how to play it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/i-was-playing-it-existential-and-maybe-a-bit-stupid-but-it-was-the/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [He made her play and she had almost forgotten how. Life had been so serious and so bitter. He knew how to play and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/he-made-her-play-and-she-had-almost-forgotten-how-life-had-been-so/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [I just knew I had to play the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/i-just-knew-i-had-to-play-the-guitar/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) ## More by Matt Le Tissier > [I'd like to think I can put myself in positions where I can get the odd half-chance to score, that's what I was best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-d-like-to-think-i-can-put-myself-in-positions-where-i-can-get-the/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [I've spoken to referees from my era who have openly admitted they were influenced by Sir Alex Ferguson when they were refereeing at Old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-ve-spoken-to-referees-from-my-era-who-have-openly-admitted-they/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [I'm 28 now. I've played 10 seasons in the top division, scored 170 goals in 400 games, and still I'm having to prove to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-m-28-now-i-ve-played-10-seasons-in-the-top-division-scored-170/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [One of the things people don't appreciate is the mental side of things. The taker has to want to be there. He must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/one-of-the-things-people-don-t-appreciate-is-the-mental-side-of/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [No, I've never had any interest in coaching, probably because I hated being told what to do when I was a player so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/no-i-ve-never-had-any-interest-in-coaching-probably-because-i-hated/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [It annoys me a great deal when people accuse me of not having any ambition because I've stayed at Southampton all these years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/it-annoys-me-a-great-deal-when-people-accuse-me-of-not-having-any/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [I always sidefooted the ball as I wanted to keep the accuracy on it but I was quite fortunate that I could sidefoot a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-always-sidefooted-the-ball-as-i-wanted-to-keep-the-accuracy-on-it/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [I think it has to do with the English mentality, we've always been wary of people with talent, we prefer people who are seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-think-it-has-to-do-with-the-english-mentality-we-ve-always-been/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [I used to visualise the stadium erupting as the ball hit the back of the net. I erased all negative thoughts from my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-used-to-visualise-the-stadium-erupting-as-the-ball-hit-the-back-of/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [I enjoy sitting beside Paul Merson every Saturday and listening to his unique pronunciation of foreign names. That really tickles me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-enjoy-sitting-beside-paul-merson-every-saturday-and-listening-to/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [All I've ever wanted to do was to play for England. That ambition hasn't changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do-was-to-play-for-england-that-ambition-hasn/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [I ended up getting sent off at The Dell against Liverpool for two bookable offences. I think that was the lowest point of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-ended-up-getting-sent-off-at-the-dell-against-liverpool-for-two/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [The most important thing about being on a football pitch is having options. That's what makes players look good. If you get the ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/the-most-important-thing-about-being-on-a-football-pitch-is-having/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [When I was a kid I wanted to play in the First Division and I wanted to play for England. I achieved both those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/when-i-was-a-kid-i-wanted-to-play-in-the-first-division-and-i-wanted/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) > [I only ever had two options when taking a penalty. It was either going to the left-hand side or the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-only-ever-had-two-options-when-taking-a-penalty-it-was-either-going/) [Matt Le Tissier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) [Explore all 17 Matt Le Tissier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/) ## More Could quotes > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I don't think Joe Louis could take the punches today fighting in this era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-don-t-think-joe-louis-could-take-the-punches-today-fighting-in-this/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [What a gift it would be if every child in the country could hear a professional orchestra at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/what-a-gift-it-would-be-if-every-child-in-the-country-could-hear-a/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/if-my-wisdom-could-get-support-from-officials-i-think-society-would/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/one-of-the-mistakes-i-made-was-thinking-chickens-and-penguins-could/) [Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/) > [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [I studied philosophy and ended on sociology. For some reason, all the advanced courses in philosophy were offered 4:30 to 6:30, so I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-jackson/i-studied-philosophy-and-ended-on-sociology-for-some-reason-all-the/) [Lawrence Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-jackson/) Browse all 8,032 Could quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I knew I could play and I thought I could get away without working particularly hard because I could do stuff that other people couldn't.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Le Tissier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-could-get-away-without-working/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Could" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-could-get-away-without-working/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/matt-le-tissier-31027_could_i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-coul_2201072.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/matt-le-tissier-31027_could_i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-coul_2201072.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/matt-le-tissier-31027_could_i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-coul_2201072.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I knew I could play and I thought I could get away without working particularly hard because I could do…” — Matt Le Tissier", "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 Le Tissier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-le-tissier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I knew I could play and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-could-get-away-without-working/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-le-tissier/i-knew-i-could-play-and-i-thought-i-could-get-away-without-working/#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 } } ] } ```