--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unless I can do myself justice and play…" description: "\"Unless I can do myself justice and play well, I'm not going to play.\" — Stephen Hendry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/stephen-hendry-5581_i-can_unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play_2453075.jpg" --- # Unless I can do myself justice and play well, I'm not… ![“Unless I can do myself justice and play well, I'm not going to play.” quote by Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/stephen-hendry-5581_i-can_unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play_2453075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/stephen-hendry-5581_i-can_unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play_2453075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/stephen-hendry-5581_i-can_unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play_2453075.jpg) > “Unless I can do myself justice and play well, I'm not going to play.” [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A player must feel confident in their own abilities and performance before they can compete effectively. **In simple terms:** Self-confidence is essential for playing well. Key Takeaway Believe in your skill before playing. Themes confidence self-trust performance competition mindset Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - sports - public speaking - career advancement - personal goals Key Concepts psychology self-efficacy motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess your readiness? - What steps build genuine confidence? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Going Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-play/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-play-585462/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-going-585461/) [Unless Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-justice-585460/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) ## Related quotes > [If I'm going to play, I'm going to have to give it 100%, which means I'm going to have to play in all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/if-i-m-going-to-play-i-m-going-to-have-to-give-it-100-which-means-i-m/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [Unless justice be done to others it will not be done to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/unless-justice-be-done-to-others-it-will-not-be-done-to-us/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [When it's time to play, I'm going to come play. I'm going to play the right way. I'm going to try to help my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/when-it-s-time-to-play-i-m-going-to-come-play-i-m-going-to-play-the/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [If they want me I'd love to come back. I'm not going to play because I can, I'm going to play because I deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-maddux/if-they-want-me-i-d-love-to-come-back-i-m-not-going-to-play-because-i/) [Greg Maddux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-maddux/) > [You going PLAY or you going to WIN!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/you-going-play-or-you-going-to-win/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) > [I am not going to play basketball because I have to play. I am going to play for fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlade-divac/i-am-not-going-to-play-basketball-because-i-have-to-play-i-am-going/) [Vlade Divac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vlade-divac/) > [We are not going to play them; they are going to play us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-iba/we-are-not-going-to-play-them-they-are-going-to-play-us/) [Henry Iba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-iba/) > [The longer you play, there's always going to be naysayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/the-longer-you-play-there-s-always-going-to-be-naysayers/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [I just do my best to put the ball in play and put it in play where no one's going to make a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/i-just-do-my-best-to-put-the-ball-in-play-and-put-it-in-play-where-no/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [One thing is for sure, for the rest of this career, I will play this game how I want to play it and, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-rose/one-thing-is-for-sure-for-the-rest-of-this-career-i-will-play-this/) [Danny Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-rose/) > [As long as my body will allow me to play I'm going to continue to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-peppers/as-long-as-my-body-will-allow-me-to-play-i-m-going-to-continue-to-play/) [Julius Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-peppers/) > [Аs long as I've got an audience out there to play for, I'm going to continue to play. I have at least enough people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/s-long-as-i-ve-got-an-audience-out-there-to-play-for-i-m-going-to/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I don't play hard to get, I play 'Never going to happen!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-play-hard-to-get-i-play-never-going-to-happen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you see me play, you're going to see more and more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-herro/when-you-see-me-play-you-re-going-to-see-more-and-more/) [Tyler Herro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-herro/) > [Every game you play is going to present different challenges. You've got to be enthusiastic about taking them on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-carlisle/every-game-you-play-is-going-to-present-different-challenges-you-ve/) [Rick Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-carlisle/) ## More by Stephen Hendry > [When you have a big lead, you relax and don't concentrate as much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/when-you-have-a-big-lead-you-relax-and-don-t-concentrate-as-much/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I always loved playing in front of big audiences; now I'm jittery if one person is in the room watching me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-always-loved-playing-in-front-of-big-audiences-now-i-m-jittery-if/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [When I'm practising on my own, my game feels great, but there's a big difference between practising on your own and playing against people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/when-i-m-practising-on-my-own-my-game-feels-great-but-there-s-a-big/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [Ever since I was a kid, I'd imagine that I was making a break to win the world championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-d-imagine-that-i-was-making-a-break-to-win/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [Maybe I wish I could be out there on the big occasions playing like I did at my peak, but I certainly don't miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/maybe-i-wish-i-could-be-out-there-on-the-big-occasions-playing-like-i/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I like cookery programmes: Anthony Bourdain going around the world eating stuff; Rick Stein - he's another favourite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-like-cookery-programmes-anthony-bourdain-going-around-the-world/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [The memories for the missed opportunities are stronger than for the ones I managed to get over the line in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/the-memories-for-the-missed-opportunities-are-stronger-than-for-the/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [When you get a trophy, why go jumping and crying? Winning's a great feeling, but everything else is an anti-climax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/when-you-get-a-trophy-why-go-jumping-and-crying-winning-s-a-great/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I remember far more shots that cost me matches than the ones that won me matches. That is maybe the way you think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-remember-far-more-shots-that-cost-me-matches-than-the-ones-that-won/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [There are some people who never get used to losing at anything, and I am probably one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/there-are-some-people-who-never-get-used-to-losing-at-anything-and-i/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [It is quite surreal when you go to places up the north, like Inner Mongolia, and you are getting mobbed at the airport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/it-is-quite-surreal-when-you-go-to-places-up-the-north-like-inner/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I put on the tuxedo, and it's like putting on overalls - they're my work clothes. Then I go to work. I'm relaxed. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-put-on-the-tuxedo-and-it-s-like-putting-on-overalls-they-re-my-work/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [In any sport at the top level, if you don't put in the hard work, you can be sure someone else is. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/in-any-sport-at-the-top-level-if-you-don-t-put-in-the-hard-work-you/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [It is just down to confidence. When I haven't got any, I hate playing the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/it-is-just-down-to-confidence-when-i-haven-t-got-any-i-hate-playing/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I find it very difficult when, due to a lack of confidence, I don't produce and lose matches I could have won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/i-find-it-very-difficult-when-due-to-a-lack-of-confidence-i-don-t/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) [Explore all 100 Stephen Hendry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) ## More I can quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [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/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-take-the-responsibility-of-playing-another-ethnicity-very-very/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Browse all 24,836 I can quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Unless I can do myself justice and play well, I'm not going to play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Hendry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play-well-i-m-not-going-to-play/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "I can" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play-well-i-m-not-going-to-play/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/stephen-hendry-5581_i-can_unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play_2453075.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/stephen-hendry-5581_i-can_unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play_2453075.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ee/stephen-hendry-5581_i-can_unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play_2453075.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Unless I can do myself justice and play well, I'm not going to play.” — Stephen Hendry", "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": "Stephen Hendry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Unless I can do myself justice...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play-well-i-m-not-going-to-play/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/unless-i-can-do-myself-justice-and-play-well-i-m-not-going-to-play/#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 } } ] } ```