--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you have to play a long time to…" description: "\"“Sometimes you have to play a long time to play like yourself.”\" — Miles Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/miles-davis-1842_long-time_sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-t_1396492.jpg" --- # Sometimes you have to play a long time to play like… ![“Sometimes you have to play a long time to play like yourself.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/miles-davis-1842_long-time_sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-t_1396492.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/miles-davis-1842_long-time_sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-t_1396492.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/miles-davis-1842_long-time_sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-t_1396492.jpg) > ““Sometimes you have to play a long time to play like yourself.”” [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastery requires patience and immersion; only through long practice can authentic self-expression emerge. **In simple terms:** Long practice reveals true self. Key Takeaway Invest time to develop your unique voice. Themes patience self‑expression mastery Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - learning an instrument - career development - personal growth Key Concepts musical identity authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does extended practice shape your personal style? - What does “playing like yourself” mean to you? A Different Perspective Skill alone doesn’t guarantee authenticity without deep immersion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-like/) [Play Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-long/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-play-1108890/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-to-be-able-to-play-like/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [“you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-have-to-play-a-long-time-to-be-able-to-play-like-yourself/) [miles davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [It's the only way you're able to play as long as I have, is to go out there and perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/it-s-the-only-way-you-re-able-to-play-as-long-as-i-have-is-to-go-out/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [It takes you years to learn how to play like yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/it-takes-you-years-to-learn-how-to-play-like-yourself/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I'll play as long as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-janikowski/i-ll-play-as-long-as-i-can/) [Sebastian Janikowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-janikowski/) > [My bits of time play with eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/my-bits-of-time-play-with-eternity/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [Every time I play 'Part of Your World,' a whole part of my life comes back to me. It's just inescapable - it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-menken/every-time-i-play-part-of-your-world-a-whole-part-of-my-life-comes/) [Alan Menken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-menken/) > [Every time you play more, you will improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-janssen/every-time-you-play-more-you-will-improve/) [Vincent Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-janssen/) > [When it's time to work we work; when it's time to play, we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/when-it-s-time-to-work-we-work-when-it-s-time-to-play-we-play/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [I get time, I play hard. If I don't get time, I wait for the time to come to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-get-time-i-play-hard-if-i-don-t-get-time-i-wait-for-the-time-to/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) > [There's a time to play and a time not to play. Just don't catch me on a bad day or you're going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/there-s-a-time-to-play-and-a-time-not-to-play-just-don-t-catch-me-on/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [“I think about you every time I play. Every single day, I take you with me wherever I go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-stewart/i-think-about-you-every-time-i-play-every-single-day-i-take-you-with/) [Kate Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-stewart/) > [I have moments all the time when I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/i-have-moments-all-the-time-when-i-play/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [Every time I play with someone, not just a new person, but someone I've been with all along, that's where I really learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-frisell/every-time-i-play-with-someone-not-just-a-new-person-but-someone-i-ve/) [Bill Frisell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-frisell/) > [Can I, just one time, play the good guy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clancy-brown/can-i-just-one-time-play-the-good-guy/) [Clancy Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clancy-brown/) ## More by Miles Davis > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Look, man, all I am is a trumpet player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/look-man-all-i-am-is-a-trumpet-player/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You have to practice for a long time before you can learn to sound like yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-have-to-practice-for-a-long-time-before-you-can-learn-to-sound/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [There are no wrong notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/there-are-no-wrong-notes/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/knowledge-is-freedom-and-ignorance-is-slavery/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-began-to-realize-that-some-of-the-things-ornette-coleman-had-said/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/people-will-go-for-anything-they-don-t-understand-if-it-s-got-enough/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [If you're trying to be hip, be hip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/if-you-re-trying-to-be-hip-be-hip/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/my-father-s-rich-my-momma-s-good-looking-right-and-i-can-play-the/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I'm out there doing the best that I can, My lip is cut and I'm still playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-m-out-there-doing-the-best-that-i-can-my-lip-is-cut-and-i-m-still/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [When I'm playing, I'm never through. It's unfinished. I like to find a place to leave for someone else to finish it. That's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/when-i-m-playing-i-m-never-through-it-s-unfinished-i-like-to-find-a/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [ \[Prince\] could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/prince-could-very-well-be-the-duke-ellington-of-rock-n-roll/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I can tell whether a person can play just by the way he stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-can-tell-whether-a-person-can-play-just-by-the-way-he-stands/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Do not fear mistakes. There are none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/do-not-fear-mistakes-there-are-none/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You can't compete with Sweets' sound and time feel. It's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-can-t-compete-with-sweets-sound-and-time-feel-it-s-impossible/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) [Explore all 204 Miles Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Sometimes you have to play a long time to play like yourself.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miles Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-to-play-like-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-to-play-like-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/miles-davis-1842_long-time_sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-t_1396492.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/miles-davis-1842_long-time_sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-t_1396492.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/miles-davis-1842_long-time_sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-t_1396492.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes you have to play a long time to play like yourself.” — Miles Davis", "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": "Miles Davis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sometimes you have to play a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-to-play-like-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/sometimes-you-have-to-play-a-long-time-to-play-like-yourself/#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 } } ] } ```