--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was getting well paid but I never…" description: "\"I was getting well paid but I never started playing football for the money.\" — Rickie Lambert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/rickie-lambert-24503_football_i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-star_1585191.jpg" --- # I was getting well paid but I never started playing… ![“I was getting well paid but I never started playing football for the money.” quote by Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/rickie-lambert-24503_football_i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-star_1585191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/rickie-lambert-24503_football_i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-star_1585191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/rickie-lambert-24503_football_i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-star_1585191.jpg) > “I was getting well paid but I never started playing football for the money.” [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He earned a good salary but chose not to play football for money, implying passion over profit. **In simple terms:** He values love for the sport more than financial gain. Key Takeaway Prioritize passion over paycheck. Themes motivation career values Mood thoughtful inspirational Type career values When to use this quote - career decisions - coaching - mentoring - contract negotiations Key Concepts economics intrinsic motivation sports ethics Questions to Reflect On - What drives your career choices? - Can passion sustain long‑term success? A Different Perspective Financial incentives can still influence decisions despite stated values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Playing football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-football/) ## Related quotes > [If you take the money away, a lot of the footballers would still be playing football. So, the money has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/if-you-take-the-money-away-a-lot-of-the-footballers-would-still-be/) [Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/) > [I started playing football young, and my career was on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/i-started-playing-football-young-and-my-career-was-on-the-pitch/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [I have always been in love with football. As a child, I started playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-capello/i-have-always-been-in-love-with-football-as-a-child-i-started-playing/) [Fabio Capello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-capello/) > [Ever since I started playing football, just trying to make a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/ever-since-i-started-playing-football-just-trying-to-make-a-play/) [Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/) > [I've been playing football all my life and I wasn't getting paid for it when I was younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-carroll/i-ve-been-playing-football-all-my-life-and-i-wasn-t-getting-paid-for/) [Andy Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-carroll/) > [I started playing football in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/i-started-playing-football-in-the-streets/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I started playing football in Abidjan, my African town, without even having shoes on my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/i-started-playing-football-in-abidjan-my-african-town-without-even/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [I just started playing football because it's fun for me, it's the best thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kimmich/i-just-started-playing-football-because-it-s-fun-for-me-it-s-the-best/) [Joshua Kimmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-kimmich/) > [At the end of the day, we started playing football because we loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/at-the-end-of-the-day-we-started-playing-football-because-we-loved-it/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [I started playing football at seven or eight but I was not really into it as I was still going with my sisters to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-osimhen/i-started-playing-football-at-seven-or-eight-but-i-was-not-really/) [Victor Osimhen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-osimhen/) > [I started playing football when I was ten years old, and the main reason was because I wanted to make my parents proud. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-cajuste/i-started-playing-football-when-i-was-ten-years-old-and-the-main/) [Devon Cajuste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-cajuste/) > [I've been a versatile player since I started playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-been-a-versatile-player-since-i-started-playing-football/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I started playing football with my mates and my brothers, in the playground or the park or the front garden. It was just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-alexander-arnold/i-started-playing-football-with-my-mates-and-my-brothers-in-the/) [Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-alexander-arnold/) > [I started playing at six. I was at a school always playing football with my friends. But I was always bored at home. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/i-started-playing-at-six-i-was-at-a-school-always-playing-football/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [I started playing football at the age of 6. I've been playing quarterback ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamarcus-russell/i-started-playing-football-at-the-age-of-6-i-ve-been-playing/) [JaMarcus Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamarcus-russell/) ## More by Rickie Lambert > [I've played football every day since I was five, and I'm just knackered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-ve-played-football-every-day-since-i-was-five-and-i-m-just-knackered/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [I know how big Liverpool are - and it means everything to me - but I know what is important; I know it's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-know-how-big-liverpool-are-and-it-means-everything-to-me-but-i-know/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [I never really got taught to be a striker in the first place and then I never got taught how to be a lone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-never-really-got-taught-to-be-a-striker-in-the-first-place-and-then/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [I could have sat on the bench for a third year but I moved to West Brom from Liverpool to play. I love Liverpool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-could-have-sat-on-the-bench-for-a-third-year-but-i-moved-to-west/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [The amount of pressure the guys are under from the English media is fierce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/the-amount-of-pressure-the-guys-are-under-from-the-english-media-is/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [Luckily I was financially okay, so I had a choice, I didn't have to stay in the game. A lot of players have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/luckily-i-was-financially-okay-so-i-had-a-choice-i-didn-t-have-to/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [The main reason I quit was my lower back. I've had problems for a few years. It was affecting my movement and power. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/the-main-reason-i-quit-was-my-lower-back-i-ve-had-problems-for-a-few/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [But when I joined up with England I felt lucky to be there, and it was the same at Liverpool. And when I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/but-when-i-joined-up-with-england-i-felt-lucky-to-be-there-and-it-was/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [That feeling you had in the lower leagues, the hunger you need to win and even earn wages, has never left me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/that-feeling-you-had-in-the-lower-leagues-the-hunger-you-need-to-win/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [Football-wise, I help with my 12-year-old and his team, and I play football on a Friday with my mates and that's about it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/football-wise-i-help-with-my-12-year-old-and-his-team-and-i-play/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [I went to West Brom, and I couldn't do what I wanted to do, and Tony Pulis was a very physically-demanding manager, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-went-to-west-brom-and-i-couldn-t-do-what-i-wanted-to-do-and-tony/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [Even though I'm 32 I feel like a kid again. I've got so much enthusiasm for the game. The fact that I'm playing under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/even-though-i-m-32-i-feel-like-a-kid-again-i-ve-got-so-much/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [And I probably had three seasons when I was on the slide, and I kind of fell out of love with football, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/and-i-probably-had-three-seasons-when-i-was-on-the-slide-and-i-kind/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [I thought I was decent at table tennis, but when I saw Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling, I thought, 'maybe not'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-thought-i-was-decent-at-table-tennis-but-when-i-saw-ross-barkley/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [I'm a striker and any chance I get I want to score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-m-a-striker-and-any-chance-i-get-i-want-to-score/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) [Explore all 24 Rickie Lambert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) ## 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 > [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": "I was getting well paid but I never started playing football for the money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rickie Lambert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-started-playing-football-for-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-started-playing-football-for-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/rickie-lambert-24503_football_i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-star_1585191.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/rickie-lambert-24503_football_i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-star_1585191.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/rickie-lambert-24503_football_i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-star_1585191.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was getting well paid but I never started playing football for the money.” — Rickie Lambert", "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": "Rickie Lambert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was getting well paid but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-started-playing-football-for-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-was-getting-well-paid-but-i-never-started-playing-football-for-the/#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 } } ] } ```