--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather…" description: "\"“I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war, Where everyone hugs Instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles And rolls on the rug, Where ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/shel-silverstein-1914_hug_i-will-not-play-at-tug-o-war-i-d-rather_1936663.jpg" --- # I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o'… ![“I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war, Where everyone hugs Instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles And rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, And everyone grins, And everyone cuddles, And everyone wins.” quote by Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/shel-silverstein-1914_hug_i-will-not-play-at-tug-o-war-i-d-rather_1936663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/shel-silverstein-1914_hug_i-will-not-play-at-tug-o-war-i-d-rather_1936663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/shel-silverstein-1914_hug_i-will-not-play-at-tug-o-war-i-d-rather_1936663.jpg) > ““I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war, Where everyone hugs Instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles And rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, And everyone grins, And everyone cuddles, And everyone wins.”” [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing affection over conflict creates a joyful, inclusive environment where everyone benefits. **In simple terms:** Prefer hugs to fights for mutual joy. Key Takeaway Embrace compassion over competition. Themes compassion joy community Mood playful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - classroom activities - team exercises - peacebuilding workshops Key Concepts conflict resolution empathy playful imagination Questions to Reflect On - What would a hug‑first approach look like at work? - How can playfulness sustain serious goals? A Different Perspective May overlook real‑world power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hug/) [Hugs Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugs-instead-2058215/) [Instead Tugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-tugs-3061798/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Hug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-hug-3061796/) [Play Tug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-tug-1577316/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Hugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-hugs-3061797/) ## Related quotes > [I will not play at tug o' war, I'd rather play at hug o' war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-will-not-play-at-tug-o-war-i-d-rather-play-at-hug-o-war/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Instead of tug o' war, let's play hug o' war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/instead-of-tug-o-war-let-s-play-hug-o-war/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [But I really would love to give her a very special gift. I was hoping if I did, she might give me a kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-day-george/but-i-really-would-love-to-give-her-a-very-special-gift-i-was-hoping/) [Jessica Day George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-day-george/) > [Women are mad at me. A girl came up to me on the street and she almost smacked me. Like, ‘How could you? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/women-are-mad-at-me-a-girl-came-up-to-me-on-the-street-and-she-almost/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I'm not a piece of rope you can play tug-of-war with. I'm not a band-aid you can just peel on and off. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-piece-of-rope-you-can-play-tug-of-war-with-i-m-not-a-band/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/that-s-what-people-do-who-love-you-they-put-their-arms-around-you-and/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [Everybody I've ever met was destroyed by a member of the opposite sex early on and that damage you took into every relationship after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/everybody-i-ve-ever-met-was-destroyed-by-a-member-of-the-opposite-sex/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Guys are OK... shake their hand... Women are special. You can hug 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bon-scott/guys-are-ok-shake-their-hand-women-are-special-you-can-hug-em/) [Bon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bon-scott/) > [Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta HUG!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-farley/brothers-don-t-shake-hands-brothers-gotta-hug/) [Chris Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-farley/) > [The stranger might laugh and seem to enjoy the writing, but you hug to yourself the thought that they didn't quite understand its force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-stranger-might-laugh-and-seem-to-enjoy-the-writing-but-you-hug-to/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Much that we hug today as knowledge is ignorance pure and simple. It makes the mind wander and even reduces it to a vacuity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/much-that-we-hug-today-as-knowledge-is-ignorance-pure-and-simple-it/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Seeing my children makes me come most alive. I come home and I see my kids' faces light up when they see me at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/seeing-my-children-makes-me-come-most-alive-i-come-home-and-i-see-my/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [We must not forget that what I mean by the conquest of the world by spiritual thought is the sending out of the life-giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-must-not-forget-that-what-i-mean-by-the-conquest-of-the-world-by/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I like kisses that aren't too fast or rushed - that's what makes a good kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-tomlinson/i-like-kisses-that-aren-t-too-fast-or-rushed-that-s-what-makes-a-good/) [Louis Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-tomlinson/) > [I see the joy in life and I see the joy in simple things. I over-compliment. I over-praise. I over-express my feelings toward people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/i-see-the-joy-in-life-and-i-see-the-joy-in-simple-things-i-over/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) ## More by Shel Silverstein > [“I cannot go to school today" Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-cannot-go-to-school-today-said-little-peggy-ann-mckay-i-have-the/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Oh, I'm being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/oh-i-m-being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Many leaves one tree”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/many-leaves-one-tree/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Magic Sandra’s seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/magic-sandra-s-seen-a-leprechaun-eddie-touched-a-troll-laurie-danced/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [He has the obligation to society that any human being has. I don't think a satirist has any greater obligation to society than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-has-the-obligation-to-society-that-any-human-being-has-i-don-t/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out! She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans, Candy the yams and spice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/sarah-cynthia-sylvia-stout-would-not-take-the-garbage-out-she-d-scour/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/to-me-freedom-entitles-you-to-do-something-not-to-not-do-something/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ol' man Simon, planted a diamond. Grew hisself a garden the likes of none. Sprouts all growin' comin' up glowin' Fruit of jewels all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ol-man-simon-planted-a-diamond-grew-hisself-a-garden-the-likes-of/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ma and God God gave us fingers--Ma says, "Use your fork." God gave us voices--Ma says, "Don't scream." Ma says eat broccoli, cereal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ma-and-god-god-gave-us-fingers-ma-says-use-your-fork-god-gave-us/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Ourchestra: So you haven't got a drum, just beat your belly. So I haven't got a horn-I'll play my nose. So we haven't any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ourchestra-so-you-haven-t-got-a-drum-just-beat-your-belly-so-i-haven/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ickle me, pickle me, tickle me too never returned to the world they knew and nobody knows what happened to dear ickle me, pickle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ickle-me-pickle-me-tickle-me-too-never-returned-to-the-world-they/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [I would hope that people, no matter what age, would find something to identify with in my books, pick one up and experience a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-would-hope-that-people-no-matter-what-age-would-find-something-to/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [What you've got to say, you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/what-you-ve-got-to-say-you-say/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [G'bye, I'm going out to play!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/g-bye-i-m-going-out-to-play/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [A spider lives inside my head Who weaves a strange and wondrous web Of silken threads and silver strings To catch all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/a-spider-lives-inside-my-head-who-weaves-a-strange-and-wondrous-web/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) [Explore all 198 Shel Silverstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## More Hug quotes > [I see the joy in life and I see the joy in simple things. I over-compliment. I over-praise. I over-express my feelings toward people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/i-see-the-joy-in-life-and-i-see-the-joy-in-simple-things-i-over/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [I like kisses that aren't too fast or rushed - that's what makes a good kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-tomlinson/i-like-kisses-that-aren-t-too-fast-or-rushed-that-s-what-makes-a-good/) [Louis Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-tomlinson/) > [We must not forget that what I mean by the conquest of the world by spiritual thought is the sending out of the life-giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-must-not-forget-that-what-i-mean-by-the-conquest-of-the-world-by/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Seeing my children makes me come most alive. I come home and I see my kids' faces light up when they see me at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/seeing-my-children-makes-me-come-most-alive-i-come-home-and-i-see-my/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [Much that we hug today as knowledge is ignorance pure and simple. It makes the mind wander and even reduces it to a vacuity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/much-that-we-hug-today-as-knowledge-is-ignorance-pure-and-simple-it/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The stranger might laugh and seem to enjoy the writing, but you hug to yourself the thought that they didn't quite understand its force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-stranger-might-laugh-and-seem-to-enjoy-the-writing-but-you-hug-to/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta HUG!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-farley/brothers-don-t-shake-hands-brothers-gotta-hug/) [Chris Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-farley/) > [Guys are OK... shake their hand... Women are special. You can hug 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bon-scott/guys-are-ok-shake-their-hand-women-are-special-you-can-hug-em/) [Bon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bon-scott/) > [Everybody I've ever met was destroyed by a member of the opposite sex early on and that damage you took into every relationship after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/everybody-i-ve-ever-met-was-destroyed-by-a-member-of-the-opposite-sex/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/that-s-what-people-do-who-love-you-they-put-their-arms-around-you-and/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [Eating something fresh out of the oven is like a hug you can taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/eating-something-fresh-out-of-the-oven-is-like-a-hug-you-can-taste/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [“I had embraced you... long before i hugged you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanober-khan/i-had-embraced-you-long-before-i-hugged-you/) [Sanober Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanober-khan/) > [If you hug someone for seven seconds, it gives you a chemical drop in your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-dohrn/if-you-hug-someone-for-seven-seconds-it-gives-you-a-chemical-drop-in/) [Walt Dohrn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-dohrn/) > [“i want to stay curled and cosied and chocolated…forever in my mother’s arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanober-khan/i-want-to-stay-curled-and-cosied-and-chocolated-forever-in-my-mother/) [Sanober Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanober-khan/) > [There were people I know that got upset that I kissed people; I kissed them for luck and love, that's all. That's what my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawson/there-were-people-i-know-that-got-upset-that-i-kissed-people-i-kissed/) [Richard Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawson/) [Browse all 855 Hug quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hug/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I will not play at tug o' war. 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