---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always had a philosophy which I got…"
description: "\"I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He used to say, 'Listen. God gave to you the gift to play football. This is your gift from God. I..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/pel-6980_be-prepared_i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-fr_728255.jpg"
---

#  I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He…

![“I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He used to say, 'Listen. God gave to you the gift to play football. This is your gift from God. If you take care of your health, if you are in good shape all the time, with your gift from God no one will stop you, but you must be prepared.'” quote by Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/pel-6980_be-prepared_i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-fr_728255.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/pel-6980_be-prepared_i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-fr_728255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/pel-6980_be-prepared_i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-fr_728255.jpg)

> “I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He used to say, 'Listen. God gave to you the gift to play football. This is your gift from God. If you take care of your health, if you are in good shape all the time, with your gift from God no one will stop you, but you must be prepared.'”

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote stresses that physical health is a divine gift enabling athletic success, and that preparation is essential to fully use it.

**In simple terms:** Health is a God-given gift that must be cared for to succeed.

Key Takeaway

Maintain health to unlock your potential.

Themes

health faith preparation athletics

Mood

determined inspirational reflective

Type

advice motivational spiritual

When to use this quote

- sports training
- daily exercise
- nutrition planning
- injury prevention

Key Concepts

gift of talent divine purpose discipline

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you prioritize health in daily life?
- What does “preparation” mean for you?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting health can still limit performance despite talent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Be prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-prepared/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift/) [Gift from god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift-from-god/) [Gift God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift-god/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-care/) [God Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-gave/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Listen God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-god/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-football/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Take care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-care/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winner/)

## Related quotes

> [God gave me my money. I believe the power to make money is a gift from God . to be developed and used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/god-gave-me-my-money-i-believe-the-power-to-make-money-is-a-gift-from/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [“The poetry of love is the greatest gift God gave us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-poetry-of-love-is-the-greatest-gift-god-gave-us/)

[Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/)

> [It feels like I am covering all aspects of what I do and operating in the gift God gave me. I believe God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-belle/it-feels-like-i-am-covering-all-aspects-of-what-i-do-and-operating-in/)

[Regina Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-belle/)

> [The most precious gift God gave humans is reason. Its best use is the search for knowledge. To know the human environment, to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatema-mernissi/the-most-precious-gift-god-gave-humans-is-reason-its-best-use-is-the/)

[Fatema Mernissi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatema-mernissi/)

> [THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT GOD GAVE YOU IS TIME](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daenjoli-smith/the-most-precious-gift-god-gave-you-is-time/)

[DaEnjoli Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daenjoli-smith/)

> [God gave us a gift. When we use that gift, it's a gift to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-gave-us-a-gift-when-we-use-that-gift-it-s-a-gift-to-god/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I feel like it's important to use this gift God gave me, my life and my career to do something to make the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-mcbride/i-feel-like-it-s-important-to-use-this-gift-god-gave-me-my-life-and/)

[Martina McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-mcbride/)

> [I am not trying to change the world. I am just offering my gift that God gave me, and if somebody is moved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-am-not-trying-to-change-the-world-i-am-just-offering-my-gift-that/)

[Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/)

> [I believe the Bible is the best gift God ever gave to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-believe-the-bible-is-the-best-gift-god-ever-gave-to-man-all-the/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I'm unable to ignore the gift that God gave me, so I'm going to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-nicole-carson/i-m-unable-to-ignore-the-gift-that-god-gave-me-so-i-m-going-to-sing/)

[Lisa Nicole Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-nicole-carson/)

> [The greatest gift God gave us is the power to make decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-greatest-gift-god-gave-us-is-the-power-to-make-decisions/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [The greatest gift God gave us is also our greatest curse, which is the free will. We are made in God's image, the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-greatest-gift-god-gave-us-is-also-our-greatest-curse-which-is-the/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [I look upon life as a gift from God. I did nothing to earn it. Now that the time is coming to give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/i-look-upon-life-as-a-gift-from-god-i-did-nothing-to-earn-it-now-that/)

[Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/)

> [The Internet offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-internet-offers-immense-possibilities-for-encounter-and/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

## More by Pele

> [“People argue between Pele or Maradona. Di Stéfano is the best, much more complete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/people-argue-between-pele-or-maradona-di-st-fano-is-the-best-much/)

[Pelé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [We're not great friends, but I admire him. If he thinks he's the best player of the century, that's his problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/we-re-not-great-friends-but-i-admire-him-if-he-thinks-he-s-the-best/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [I sometimes lie awake at night and wonder why I am still so popular and, to be honest, I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/i-sometimes-lie-awake-at-night-and-wonder-why-i-am-still-so-popular/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [When I was playing, they said soccer was a man's world and women should remain on the sidelines, all I can say is I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/when-i-was-playing-they-said-soccer-was-a-man-s-world-and-women/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [When football stars disappear, so do the teams, and that is a very curious phenomenon. It is like in the theatre, in a play,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/when-football-stars-disappear-so-do-the-teams-and-that-is-a-very/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [I treat everybody the same. You know I love to be with people: the youngsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/i-treat-everybody-the-same-you-know-i-love-to-be-with-people-the/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/enthusiasm-is-everything-it-must-be-taut-and-vibrating-like-a-guitar/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [The bicycle kick is not easy to do. I scored 1,283 goals, and only two or three were bicycle kicks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/the-bicycle-kick-is-not-easy-to-do-i-scored-1-283-goals-and-only-two/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [Lionel Messi is a wonderful player. Very skillful. Highly intelligent. He is not good in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/lionel-messi-is-a-wonderful-player-very-skillful-highly-intelligent/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [Everybody knows my life. I won a lot of tournaments and scored more than 1,000 goals, won three World Cups but I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/everybody-knows-my-life-i-won-a-lot-of-tournaments-and-scored-more/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [If I pass away one day, I am happy because I tried to do my best. My sport allowed me to do so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/if-i-pass-away-one-day-i-am-happy-because-i-tried-to-do-my-best-my/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [Sport is something that is very inspirational for young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/sport-is-something-that-is-very-inspirational-for-young-people/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [Love is more important than what we can take...Please say with me three times-Love! Love! Love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/love-is-more-important-than-what-we-can-take-please-say-with-me-three/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [Pele doesn't die. Pele will never die. Pele is going to go on for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/pele-doesn-t-die-pele-will-never-die-pele-is-going-to-go-on-for-ever/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

> [George Best was the greatest player in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/george-best-was-the-greatest-player-in-the-world/)

[Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

[Explore all 96 Pele quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/)

## More Be prepared quotes

> [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/)

[Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/)

> [Wherever you escape, the truth will find you! Always be prepared to meet with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/wherever-you-escape-the-truth-will-find-you-always-be-prepared-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [The thing about writing or making art is that I'm not thinking about that stuff while I'm doing it. Like the driver's ed kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-martin/the-thing-about-writing-or-making-art-is-that-i-m-not-thinking-about/)

[Chelsea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-martin/)

> [You must have goals in your life, or otherwise be prepared to be used by those who do have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-must-have-goals-in-your-life-or-otherwise-be-prepared-to-be-used/)

[Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/)

> [I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-never-minded-giving-my-opinions-they-are-just-opinions-and-i-had/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [To me, man means awareness of death. I am not saying become afraid of death; that is not awareness. Just be aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-me-man-means-awareness-of-death-i-am-not-saying-become-afraid-of/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [Another mistake a director can make is not to be prepared, so you get there on the day to shoot the scene, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/another-mistake-a-director-can-make-is-not-to-be-prepared-so-you-get/)

[William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/)

> [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/)

[Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/)

> [Good preparation is key for me. Nowadays everyone is an actor slash writer, slash this, slash that, its cool; and you can only go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-zevallos/good-preparation-is-key-for-me-nowadays-everyone-is-an-actor-slash/)

[Jaime Zevallos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-zevallos/)

> [Cruel and paradoxical though it undoubtedly is, the record shows that yje most succesful 20th century monarchs have been those who were not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cannadine/cruel-and-paradoxical-though-it-undoubtedly-is-the-record-shows-that/)

[David Cannadine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cannadine/)

> [One can understand the politics of that at this moment. It's an effort to buy time for a constituency of workers who have really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/one-can-understand-the-politics-of-that-at-this-moment-it-s-an-effort/)

[Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/)

> [We are all better than we know. If only we can be brought to realise this, we may never be prepared to settle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/we-are-all-better-than-we-know-if-only-we-can-be-brought-to-realise/)

[Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/)

> [I have spoken about what we can do as citizens, what we can do as a responsive citizenry, and this is where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-have-spoken-about-what-we-can-do-as-citizens-what-we-can-do-as-a/)

[Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/)

[Browse all 692 Be prepared quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-prepared/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He used to say, 'Listen. God gave to you the gift to play football. This is your gift from God. If you take care of your health, if you are in good shape all the time, with your gift from God no one will stop you, but you must be prepared.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pele"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-from-my-father-he-used-to-say/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Be prepared"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-from-my-father-he-used-to-say/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/pel-6980_be-prepared_i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-fr_728255.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/pel-6980_be-prepared_i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-fr_728255.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/pel-6980_be-prepared_i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-fr_728255.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I always had a philosophy which I got from my father. He used to say, 'Listen. God gave to you the gift to…” — Pele",
                "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": "Pele",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I always had a philosophy which...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-from-my-father-he-used-to-say/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/i-always-had-a-philosophy-which-i-got-from-my-father-he-used-to-say/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
