--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you flop, that's just another…" description: "\"When you flop, that's just another message that you don't know how to play me. Stand up and take your medicine like a man.\" — Shaquille O'Neal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4b/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_when-you-flop-that-s-just-another-messag_2401961.jpg" --- # When you flop, that's just another message that you don't… ![“When you flop, that's just another message that you don't know how to play me. Stand up and take your medicine like a man.” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4b/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_when-you-flop-that-s-just-another-messag_2401961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4b/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_when-you-flop-that-s-just-another-messag_2401961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4b/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_when-you-flop-that-s-just-another-messag_2401961.jpg) > “When you flop, that's just another message that you don't know how to play me. Stand up and take your medicine like a man.” [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure is framed as a signal of misunderstanding; the speaker urges confronting problems directly and responsibly. **In simple terms:** Treat setbacks as learning signals and act maturely. Key Takeaway Own mistakes and act decisively. Themes responsibility resilience growth Mood motivational direct Type inspirational serious When to use this quote - sports - career setbacks - personal challenges Key Concepts mindset self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What does “taking your medicine” mean to you? - How can vulnerability improve performance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on masculinity may limit emotional expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Message](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/message/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I will always play "Stand Back" anyway. And Prince will always he standing behind me every time I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-will-always-play-stand-back-anyway-and-prince-will-always-he/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [“You're the fall guy, Winch. You're the guy they come to when no one else will stand up and take their medicine. And they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-reinhardt/you-re-the-fall-guy-winch-you-re-the-guy-they-come-to-when-no-one/) [Liz Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-reinhardt/) > [Flip Flop, No Feet. Handicap, But Eat Meat!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/flip-flop-no-feet-handicap-but-eat-meat/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [After you do a joke a few times, you have material that you know works. Although sometimes I have a joke that has worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/after-you-do-a-joke-a-few-times-you-have-material-that-you-know-works-2/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [Because I was called a flop ever since I got here, my only intention is to be part of Manchester United's history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred/because-i-was-called-a-flop-ever-since-i-got-here-my-only-intention/) [Fred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred/) > [“I feel my stomach do that weird little flip-flop thing you hear about. Not good. This is our second conversation. Not good at all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-my-stomach-do-that-weird-little-flip-flop-thing-you-hear-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm trying to use people like Meredith Monk and Philip Glass and Terry Riley as the backing tracks for new pop songs. It's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autre-ne-veut/i-m-trying-to-use-people-like-meredith-monk-and-philip-glass-and/) [Autre Ne Veut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autre-ne-veut/) > [I have one rave 'New York Times' review framed next to a flop 'Los Angeles Times' review. And it's for the same show. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-vilanch/i-have-one-rave-new-york-times-review-framed-next-to-a-flop-los/) [Bruce Vilanch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-vilanch/) > [“Life is full of Floppy Flips... You have to know when to Flip your Flop that counts!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-grigowski/life-is-full-of-floppy-flips-you-have-to-know-when-to-flip-your-flop/) Peggy Grigowski > [The things that I have done that haven't been as successful have been things that have been largely out of the public view, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/the-things-that-i-have-done-that-haven-t-been-as-successful-have-been/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [Unfortunately in Bollywood, if your film is a flop, your acting is considered flop too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-sadh/unfortunately-in-bollywood-if-your-film-is-a-flop-your-acting-is/) [Amit Sadh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-sadh/) > [Don't improve it into a flop!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-goldwyn/don-t-improve-it-into-a-flop/) [Samuel Goldwyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-goldwyn/) > [I don't know how to make hit or flop shows, I don't know its mechanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/i-don-t-know-how-to-make-hit-or-flop-shows-i-don-t-know-its-mechanism/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [Flip-flopping is kind of an easy thing to identify. During a recent convention, we heard an irate Senator make an angry speech declaring that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lautenberg/flip-flopping-is-kind-of-an-easy-thing-to-identify-during-a-recent/) [Frank Lautenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lautenberg/) > [My second hit was a flop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakin-stevens/my-second-hit-was-a-flop/) [Shakin' Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakin-stevens/) ## More by Shaquille O'Neal > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And if the big dog ain't me, then the house won't get guarded - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-if-the-big-dog-ain-t-me-then-the-house-won-t-get-guarded-period/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I don't send messages, I'm not a fax machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-don-t-send-messages-i-m-not-a-fax-machine/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told our guys they must not have cable because Antoine Walker knows how to play, Derek Anderson can play, Shandon Anderson knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-our-guys-they-must-not-have-cable-because-antoine-walker-knows/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I was really upset. I felt like they tried to limit me, whoever 'they' may be. So I just said to myself third quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-was-really-upset-i-felt-like-they-tried-to-limit-me-whoever-they/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm still the baddest expletive in the world. Yeah, I'm getting older, but Kareem got older. Hakeem got older. I don't need Earthlings' respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-still-the-baddest-expletive-in-the-world-yeah-i-m-getting-older/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Write this: Since my boy is the coach, I'm going to try out for the Dolphins next year. Tight end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/write-this-since-my-boy-is-the-coach-i-m-going-to-try-out-for-the/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Why don't you bring your face up here and let me punch it? Then you can tell me (if I'm stronger).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/why-don-t-you-bring-your-face-up-here-and-let-me-punch-it-then-you/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm known as The Big Baryshnikov.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-known-as-the-big-baryshnikov/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Enunciation, diction, all that stuff. None of that is in my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/enunciation-diction-all-that-stuff-none-of-that-is-in-my-personality/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. If I tell you where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-leonard-in-the-immortal-words-of-tom-cruise-in-mission/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Stats don't matter. I care about winning, not stats. If I score 0 points and we win I'm happy. If I score 50, 60…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/stats-don-t-matter-i-care-about-winning-not-stats-if-i-score-0-points/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) [Explore all 422 Shaquille O'Neal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you flop, that's just another message that you don't know how to play me. 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