--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A game is great, in my view, only if it…" description: "\"A game is great, in my view, only if it can be played happily by a sane person of at least average intelligence for several hours a day for fifty years..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/robert-byrne-18804_day_a-game-is-great-in-my-view-only-if-it-ca_876449.jpg" --- # A game is great, in my view, only if it can be played… ![“A game is great, in my view, only if it can be played happily by a sane person of at least average intelligence for several hours a day for fifty years. Both pool and billiards qualify.” quote by Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/robert-byrne-18804_day_a-game-is-great-in-my-view-only-if-it-ca_876449.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/robert-byrne-18804_day_a-game-is-great-in-my-view-only-if-it-ca_876449.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/robert-byrne-18804_day_a-game-is-great-in-my-view-only-if-it-ca_876449.jpg) > “A game is great, in my view, only if it can be played happily by a sane person of at least average intelligence for several hours a day for fifty years. Both pool and billiards qualify.” [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A game is valuable only if it remains enjoyable and mentally engaging for a long, sustained period for an average‑intelligent, sane person. **In simple terms:** Games must stay fun and challenging over decades. Key Takeaway Prioritize lasting enjoyment and mental stimulation. Themes fun mental challenge longevity accessibility Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - board game design - long‑term hobby planning - educational game development Key Concepts Game design cognitive engagement sustainability Questions to Reflect On - What makes a game timeless for you? - How do you balance challenge with accessibility? A Different Perspective May overlook niche or highly complex games that appeal to specialists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billiards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billiards/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) ## Related quotes > [..."And then we played Ping-Pong—” “Not pool? I always assumed he was a billiards man—I mean, it’s so handy the way he keeps a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/and-then-we-played-ping-pong-not-pool-i-always-assumed-he-was-a/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [Once-dominant games like straight pool and three-cushion billiards have lost ground to eight-ball - the game of choice for millions of tavern league players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/once-dominant-games-like-straight-pool-and-three-cushion-billiards/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/success-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [I learned to approach racing like a game of billiards. If you bash the ball too hard, you get nowhere. As you handle the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-manuel-fangio/i-learned-to-approach-racing-like-a-game-of-billiards-if-you-bash-the/) [Juan Manuel Fangio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-manuel-fangio/) > [To play billiards well was a sign of an ill-spent youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/to-play-billiards-well-was-a-sign-of-an-ill-spent-youth/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Boxing and billiards, its all angles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/boxing-and-billiards-its-all-angles/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [“A sign read "Free drinks for billiards competitors only." Hand-lettered below read "All others will pay." It was written in blood. I could tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-tash/a-sign-read-free-drinks-for-billiards-competitors-only-hand-lettered/) [Red Tash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-tash/) > [We're playing strip billiards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-vadim/we-re-playing-strip-billiards/) [Roger Vadim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-vadim/) > [Fishing is not like billiards, in which it is possible to attain a disgusting perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ransome/fishing-is-not-like-billiards-in-which-it-is-possible-to-attain-a/) [Arthur Ransome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ransome/) > [“A certain skill at billiards is the mark of a gentleman, but to play too well is the sign of a misspent youth. Lucien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jo-putney/a-certain-skill-at-billiards-is-the-mark-of-a-gentleman-but-to-play/) [Mary Jo Putney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jo-putney/) > [If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride, because it shows you trust in your own powers. Never bother about other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/if-you-are-discouraged-it-is-a-sign-of-pride-because-it-shows-you/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [As in the game of billiards, the balls are constantly producing effects from mere chance, which the most skillful player could neither execute nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/as-in-the-game-of-billiards-the-balls-are-constantly-producing/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [There was one planet off in the seventh dimension that got used as a ball in a game of intergalactic bar billiards. Got potted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-was-one-planet-off-in-the-seventh-dimension-that-got-used-as-a/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Thus so wretched is man that he would weary even without any cause for weariness... and so frivolous is he that, though full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/thus-so-wretched-is-man-that-he-would-weary-even-without-any-cause/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [ Along the way \[Mozart\] got married; fathered seven children (two of whom survived into adulthood); performed as a pianist; violinist; and conductor; maintained a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greenberg/along-the-way-mozart-got-married-fathered-seven-children-two-of-whom/) [Robert Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greenberg/) ## More by Robert Byrne > [There is money to be made giving trick-shot shows at schools, clubs, tournaments, and even shopping centers. Pool shows on television almost always include…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/there-is-money-to-be-made-giving-trick-shot-shows-at-schools-clubs/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-the-candidate-you-dislike-least/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [In order to preserve your self-respect, it is sometimes necessary to lie and cheat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/in-order-to-preserve-your-self-respect-it-is-sometimes-necessary-to/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Memorial Service: Farewell party for someone who already left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/memorial-service-farewell-party-for-someone-who-already-left/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [The purpose of life is life with a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/the-purpose-of-life-is-life-with-a-purpose/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Partying is such sweet sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/partying-is-such-sweet-sorrow/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [The purpose of life is a life of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/the-purpose-of-life-is-a-life-of-purpose/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [There are two kinds of people, those who finish what they start and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-those-who-finish-what-they-start-and-so/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [If you know a good player who is tempted by pool hustling, introduce him at once to a career guidance counselor, a psychotherapist, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/if-you-know-a-good-player-who-is-tempted-by-pool-hustling-introduce/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Once-dominant games like straight pool and three-cushion billiards have lost ground to eight-ball - the game of choice for millions of tavern league players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/once-dominant-games-like-straight-pool-and-three-cushion-billiards/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [One reason people get divorced is that they run out of gift ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/one-reason-people-get-divorced-is-that-they-run-out-of-gift-ideas/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Until you walk a mile in another man's moccasins you can't imagine the smell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/until-you-walk-a-mile-in-another-man-s-moccasins-you-can-t-imagine/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Learning to dislike children at an early age saves a lot of expense and aggravation later in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/learning-to-dislike-children-at-an-early-age-saves-a-lot-of-expense/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Anybody who believes that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach flunked geography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/anybody-who-believes-that-the-way-to-a-man-s-heart-is-through-his/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [Getting caught is the mother of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/getting-caught-is-the-mother-of-invention/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) [Explore all 34 Robert Byrne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) ## More Billiards quotes > [Fishing is not like billiards, in which it is possible to attain a disgusting perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ransome/fishing-is-not-like-billiards-in-which-it-is-possible-to-attain-a/) [Arthur Ransome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ransome/) > [Thus so wretched is man that he would weary even without any cause for weariness... and so frivolous is he that, though full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/thus-so-wretched-is-man-that-he-would-weary-even-without-any-cause/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There was one planet off in the seventh dimension that got used as a ball in a game of intergalactic bar billiards. Got potted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-was-one-planet-off-in-the-seventh-dimension-that-got-used-as-a/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [As in the game of billiards, the balls are constantly producing effects from mere chance, which the most skillful player could neither execute nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/as-in-the-game-of-billiards-the-balls-are-constantly-producing/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride, because it shows you trust in your own powers. Never bother about other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/if-you-are-discouraged-it-is-a-sign-of-pride-because-it-shows-you/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Once-dominant games like straight pool and three-cushion billiards have lost ground to eight-ball - the game of choice for millions of tavern league players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/once-dominant-games-like-straight-pool-and-three-cushion-billiards/) [Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/) > [“A certain skill at billiards is the mark of a gentleman, but to play too well is the sign of a misspent youth. Lucien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jo-putney/a-certain-skill-at-billiards-is-the-mark-of-a-gentleman-but-to-play/) [Mary Jo Putney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jo-putney/) > [..."And then we played Ping-Pong—” “Not pool? I always assumed he was a billiards man—I mean, it’s so handy the way he keeps a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/and-then-we-played-ping-pong-not-pool-i-always-assumed-he-was-a/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [We're playing strip billiards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-vadim/we-re-playing-strip-billiards/) [Roger Vadim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-vadim/) > [“A sign read "Free drinks for billiards competitors only." Hand-lettered below read "All others will pay." It was written in blood. I could tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-tash/a-sign-read-free-drinks-for-billiards-competitors-only-hand-lettered/) [Red Tash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-tash/) > [Boxing and billiards, its all angles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/boxing-and-billiards-its-all-angles/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [To play billiards well was a sign of an ill-spent youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/to-play-billiards-well-was-a-sign-of-an-ill-spent-youth/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I learned to approach racing like a game of billiards. If you bash the ball too hard, you get nowhere. As you handle the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-manuel-fangio/i-learned-to-approach-racing-like-a-game-of-billiards-if-you-bash-the/) [Juan Manuel Fangio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-manuel-fangio/) > [Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/success-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [ Along the way \[Mozart\] got married; fathered seven children (two of whom survived into adulthood); performed as a pianist; violinist; and conductor; maintained a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greenberg/along-the-way-mozart-got-married-fathered-seven-children-two-of-whom/) [Robert Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greenberg/) [Browse all 27 Billiards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billiards/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A game is great, in my view, only if it can be played happily by a sane person of at least average intelligence for several hours a day for fifty years. 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