--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want to be taking up space, but…" description: "\"I don't want to be taking up space, but as long as I can make a contribution, I want to play.\" — Robert Parish" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/robert-parish-8044_contribution_i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-a_1289820.jpg" --- # I don't want to be taking up space, but as long as I can… ![“I don't want to be taking up space, but as long as I can make a contribution, I want to play.” quote by Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/robert-parish-8044_contribution_i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-a_1289820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/robert-parish-8044_contribution_i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-a_1289820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/robert-parish-8044_contribution_i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-a_1289820.jpg) > “I don't want to be taking up space, but as long as I can make a contribution, I want to play.” [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even if you feel insignificant, contributing where you can is valuable; participation matters. **In simple terms:** Contribute even if you think you’re small. Key Takeaway Offer your abilities wherever needed. Themes teamwork self‑worth contribution humility Mood encouraging humble Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - Team sports - community projects - volunteering Key Concepts Sports psychology social identity Questions to Reflect On - What unique value can you add? - How do you balance contribution and self‑care? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on contribution may lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Taking Up Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-up-space/) ## Related quotes > [“This life is beautiful. It’s so goddamned beautiful I can hardly stand it. And I’m a glorious part of it! Everybody else is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-sparks/this-life-is-beautiful-it-s-so-goddamned-beautiful-i-can-hardly-stand/) [Beatrice Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrice-sparks/) > [“You see, there's a responsibility in being a person. It's more than just taking up space where air would be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-see-there-s-a-responsibility-in-being-a-person-it-s-more-than/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The rest of ya'll just taking up space, and you don't even care. It's like you started eating Thanks Giving dinner without saying grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-grae/the-rest-of-ya-ll-just-taking-up-space-and-you-don-t-even-care-it-s/) [Jean Grae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-grae/) > [There's a responsibility in being a person. It's more than just taking up space where air would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/there-s-a-responsibility-in-being-a-person-it-s-more-than-just-taking/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Why do girls always feel like they have to apologize for giving an opinion or taking up space in the world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/why-do-girls-always-feel-like-they-have-to-apologize-for-giving-an/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up space. -- Leonard Blake”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-blake/if-you-re-not-living-on-the-edge-you-re-taking-up-space-leonard-blake/) Leonard Blake > [“We don't live for sixty, eighty, or even a hundred years. We live for the few precious moments that happen in those sixty, eighty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-daley/we-don-t-live-for-sixty-eighty-or-even-a-hundred-years-we-live-for/) [Christina Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-daley/) > [“Books are a bad family - there are those you love, and those you are indifferent to; idiots and mad cousins who you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mccracken/books-are-a-bad-family-there-are-those-you-love-and-those-you-are/) [Elizabeth McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mccracken/) > [“By taking up space, standing up for ourselves, and reassessing a future with crystal-clear perspectives, we gain clarity and make room for self-care, well-being,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/by-taking-up-space-standing-up-for-ourselves-and-reassessing-a-future/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [We should be teaching young girls to take up space. Nothing is as important as taking up space in society and cementing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zozibini-tunzi/we-should-be-teaching-young-girls-to-take-up-space-nothing-is-as/) [Zozibini Tunzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zozibini-tunzi/) > [Stop holding on to what hurts, It's only taking up space for what feels good. Let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/stop-holding-on-to-what-hurts-it-s-only-taking-up-space-for-what/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [If you don't want anyone to know about your existence, you might as well kill yourself. You're taking up space, air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/if-you-don-t-want-anyone-to-know-about-your-existence-you-might-as/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [It's really important to be conscious of how you're taking up space in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-russell/it-s-really-important-to-be-conscious-of-how-you-re-taking-up-space/) [Taylor Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-russell/) > [“If I can’t figure out why I’m here, then I’m just taking up space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/if-i-can-t-figure-out-why-i-m-here-then-i-m-just-taking-up-space/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [For me, boxing was a way of me exercising my frustration, anger, sense of injustice, but also a way of owning my space and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-buckman/for-me-boxing-was-a-way-of-me-exercising-my-frustration-anger-sense/) [Zoe Buckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-buckman/) ## More by Robert Parish > [I was always looking at the ground because I was self-conscious about my height. I had big feet, big hands, and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-was-always-looking-at-the-ground-because-i-was-self-conscious-about/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [On the West Coast, things are more relaxed, maybe because people have more fun outdoors. In the East, where the weather is not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/on-the-west-coast-things-are-more-relaxed-maybe-because-people-have/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I have never been one to seek or want attention or admiration or a pat on the back for what I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-have-never-been-one-to-seek-or-want-attention-or-admiration-or-a/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Good grooming and hygiene are essential. It's never too early to start being concerned about your appearance - first impressions are everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/good-grooming-and-hygiene-are-essential-it-s-never-too-early-to-start/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I'm not saying Brad Stevens should not be getting praise for the job that he's done, because I feel like he's done an outstanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-m-not-saying-brad-stevens-should-not-be-getting-praise-for-the-job/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I was a very quiet kid, had nothing much to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-was-a-very-quiet-kid-had-nothing-much-to-say/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I'm 38, and everyone is making a big deal out of it because I got a few gray hairs cropping in my sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-m-38-and-everyone-is-making-a-big-deal-out-of-it-because-i-got-a/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I haven't talked to the press much. That's why I've gotten kind of a bad reputation. They look at me and think I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-haven-t-talked-to-the-press-much-that-s-why-i-ve-gotten-kind-of-a/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Playing with a winner is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/playing-with-a-winner-is-important/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [You could say that as I've gotten more mature, I've acquired more manure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/you-could-say-that-as-i-ve-gotten-more-mature-i-ve-acquired-more/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [You should never put your hands on a woman, under any circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/you-should-never-put-your-hands-on-a-woman-under-any-circumstances/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I can't speak for anyone else, but I know how good I have it. You can't find a much better job than this. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-can-t-speak-for-anyone-else-but-i-know-how-good-i-have-it-you-can-t/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Bill Walton, Quinn Buckner, Scott Wedman. Even if you get talent like that, it's hard to keep talent like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/dennis-johnson-danny-ainge-bill-walton-quinn-buckner-scott-wedman/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Growing up, I didn't like basketball. I played football and baseball and ran some track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/growing-up-i-didn-t-like-basketball-i-played-football-and-baseball/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [Shoot, I ain't working for free. You can never have enough money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/shoot-i-ain-t-working-for-free-you-can-never-have-enough-money/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) [Explore all 85 Robert Parish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) ## More Contribution quotes > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) Vernon Johns > [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I love Black Sabbath. They made an amazing contribution to music today. Almost every band that made it big in the Nineties owed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-love-black-sabbath-they-made-an-amazing-contribution-to-music-today/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [There is still zero empirical evidence that anthropogenic production of CO2 is making any measurable contribution to the world's present warming trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-is-still-zero-empirical-evidence-that-anthropogenic-production/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The way a culture treats women in birth is a good indicator of how well women and their contributions to society are valued and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-may-gaskin/the-way-a-culture-treats-women-in-birth-is-a-good-indicator-of-how/) [Ina May Gaskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-may-gaskin/) > [The excellence of this important contribution to genre literature CANNOT be overstated A masterwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-nolan/the-excellence-of-this-important-contribution-to-genre-literature/) William F. Nolan > [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. But they don't have the ethical right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/of-course-corporations-and-governments-have-a-right-to-something-for/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [Fundamentally transforming the foundations of the economy is the biggest contribution we can make towards building a sustainable future. The current economic crisis may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-porritt/fundamentally-transforming-the-foundations-of-the-economy-is-the/) [Jonathon Porritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-porritt/) > [I think self-deprecation is such a disease, and I want to cure everybody of it and so that's my contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-self-deprecation-is-such-a-disease-and-i-want-to-cure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [It is in the measure that special methods acknowledge their common core in transcendental method, that norms common to all the sciences will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/it-is-in-the-measure-that-special-methods-acknowledge-their-common/) [Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/) > [Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/chaperons-even-in-their-days-of-glory-were-almost-never-able-to/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Replace your pursuit of success with the pursuit of contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/replace-your-pursuit-of-success-with-the-pursuit-of-contribution/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [There is no art or science that is too difficult for industry to attain to; it is the gift of tongues, and makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/there-is-no-art-or-science-that-is-too-difficult-for-industry-to/) [Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hyde-1st-earl-of-clarendon/) > [What 'eminent domain' laws mean in practice is that politicians have a right to seize your property and turn it over to someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/what-eminent-domain-laws-mean-in-practice-is-that-politicians-have-a/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) [Browse all 1,297 Contribution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't want to be taking up space, but as long as I can make a contribution, I want to play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Parish" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-as-long-as-i-can-make-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contribution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-as-long-as-i-can-make-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/robert-parish-8044_contribution_i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-a_1289820.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/robert-parish-8044_contribution_i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-a_1289820.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/robert-parish-8044_contribution_i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-a_1289820.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't want to be taking up space, but as long as I can make a contribution, I want to play.” — Robert Parish", "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": "Robert Parish", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't want to be taking...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-as-long-as-i-can-make-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-don-t-want-to-be-taking-up-space-but-as-long-as-i-can-make-a/#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 } } ] } ```