--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: About winning and losing: It isn't…" description: "\"About winning and losing: It isn't important, what really counts is how you play the game. About playing the game: PLAY TO WIN!\" — Robert Fulghum" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/robert-fulghum-1807_football_about-winning-and-losing-it-isn-t-import_2088926.png" --- # About winning and losing: It isn't important, what really… ![“About winning and losing: It isn't important, what really counts is how you play the game. About playing the game: PLAY TO WIN!” quote by Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/robert-fulghum-1807_football_about-winning-and-losing-it-isn-t-import_2088926.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/robert-fulghum-1807_football_about-winning-and-losing-it-isn-t-import_2088926.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d99/robert-fulghum-1807_football_about-winning-and-losing-it-isn-t-import_2088926.png) > “About winning and losing: It isn't important, what really counts is how you play the game. About playing the game: PLAY TO WIN!” [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is less about outcomes and more about the integrity and effort you bring to the activity. **In simple terms:** How you act matters more than win or loss. Key Takeaway Focus on playing with integrity. Themes integrity effort sportsmanship Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - team sports - business negotiations - personal projects - education Key Concepts ethical play personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your actions in competition? - How does mindset affect performance? A Different Perspective Winning can be hollow without genuine effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Losing Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-isn-1220211/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play to win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-to-win/) [Play Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-win/) [Playing Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-game/) [Playing The Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-the-game/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning and losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-and-losing/) [Winning losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-losing/) ## Related quotes > [Winning and losing isn't what's important. The attempt at success and getting to your best self is what matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christen-press/winning-and-losing-isn-t-what-s-important-the-attempt-at-success-and/) [Christen Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christen-press/) > [It's just Lord be with me... Winning and losing isn't the most important thing. He's not worried about the outcome of the game. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/it-s-just-lord-be-with-me-winning-and-losing-isn-t-the-most-important/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [Winning and losing isn't everything; sometimes, the journey is just as important as the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/winning-and-losing-isn-t-everything-sometimes-the-journey-is-just-as/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-a-sometime-thing-it-s-an-all-the-time-thing/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [If you don't play to win, why keep score?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vern-law/if-you-don-t-play-to-win-why-keep-score/) [Vern Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vern-law/) > [I play to win. If I have great numbers, that's great. Obviously you feel good about it, but still, I'm playing to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/i-play-to-win-if-i-have-great-numbers-that-s-great-obviously-you-feel/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [If I play to win will I make it out? I'm tired of feeling my heart, Lord I just wanna scrape it out. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-krit/if-i-play-to-win-will-i-make-it-out-i-m-tired-of-feeling-my-heart/) [Big Krit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-krit/) > [Individual records are nice to get, but before the season starts, you want to play to win the Stanley Cup!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-lafleur/individual-records-are-nice-to-get-but-before-the-season-starts-you/) [Guy Lafleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-lafleur/) > [I play to win, because I think that's when you get the most praise is when you win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/i-play-to-win-because-i-think-that-s-when-you-get-the-most-praise-is/) [Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/) > [We don't really try to pay attention to the score, we just try to play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/we-don-t-really-try-to-pay-attention-to-the-score-we-just-try-to-play/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [The true competitors, though, are the ones who always play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/the-true-competitors-though-are-the-ones-who-always-play-to-win/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [When Brazil take part in any competition they must always play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zico/when-brazil-take-part-in-any-competition-they-must-always-play-to-win/) [Zico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zico/) > [You play to win the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-play-to-win-the-game/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you look around you wonder do you play to win? Or are you just a bad loser?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pet-shop-boys/when-you-look-around-you-wonder-do-you-play-to-win-or-are-you-just-a/) [Pet Shop Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pet-shop-boys/) > [I get paid to play, to win, to give the city pride, so maybe everybody can forget for a little while how hard life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-get-paid-to-play-to-win-to-give-the-city-pride-so-maybe-everybody/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) ## More by Robert Fulghum > [to understand our love they'd have to turn the world upside down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/to-understand-our-love-they-d-have-to-turn-the-world-upside-down/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/what-does-it-profit-a-man-if-he-gains-the-whole-world-and-loses-his/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sticks-and-stones-may-break-our-bones-but-words-will-break-our-hearts/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Life is. I am. Anything might happen. And I believe I may invest my life with meaning. The uncertainty is a blessing in disguise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/life-is-i-am-anything-might-happen-and-i-believe-i-may-invest-my-life/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Weddings seem to be magnets for mishap and for whatever craziness lurks in family closets. In more ways than one, weddings bring out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/weddings-seem-to-be-magnets-for-mishap-and-for-whatever-craziness/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [I don't think there is a hidden purpose to the universe that you have to puzzle out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-hidden-purpose-to-the-universe-that-you-have/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [The name is not important anymore - it's the tone that counts. I feel like an old dog I know. He will come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/the-name-is-not-important-anymore-it-s-the-tone-that-counts-i-feel/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“Nobody goes "AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" when they sing it. Maybe because it puts the life adventure in such clear and simple terms. The small creature is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/nobody-goes-aaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhh-when-they-sing-it-maybe-because/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there at the sandpile at Sunday School.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/wisdom-was-not-at-the-top-of-the-graduate-school-mountain-but-there/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [You are free to give life meaning, whatever meaning you want to give it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/you-are-free-to-give-life-meaning-whatever-meaning-you-want-to-give-it/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [If we could just figure out how to have more fun at it, maybe more of us would join the ranks of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have-more-fun-at-it-maybe-more-of/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Sometimes during the day, I consciously focus on some ordinary object and allow myself a momentary "paying-attention." This paying-attention gives meaning to my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sometimes-during-the-day-i-consciously-focus-on-some-ordinary-object/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [All I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten. Share everything ... Don't hit people ... Clean up your own mess ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/all-i-ever-needed-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten-share-everything/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [No. I was an only child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/no-i-was-an-only-child/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [You feel like an ant contemplating Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/you-feel-like-an-ant-contemplating-chicago/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) [Explore all 206 Robert Fulghum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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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": "About winning and losing: It isn't important, what really counts is how you play the game. 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