--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never played the game for money." description: "\"I've never played the game for money.\" — Zach Ertz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/zach-ertz-6576_game_i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money-190_1903392.jpg" --- # I've never played the game for money. ![“I've never played the game for money.” quote by Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/zach-ertz-6576_game_i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money-190_1903392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/zach-ertz-6576_game_i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money-190_1903392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/zach-ertz-6576_game_i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money-190_1903392.jpg) > “I've never played the game for money.” [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing for enjoyment, not profit, preserves purity of the experience. **In simple terms:** Play for fun, not money. Key Takeaway Prioritize love of the game. Themes sports motivation integrity Mood lighthearted reflective Type sports philosophical When to use this quote - recreational leagues - amateur tournaments - team building - coaching Key Concepts game theory intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you more than money? - How does playing for fun affect your performance? A Different Perspective Competitive pressure can erode enjoyment; financial incentives may improve performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Game Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-money-2743776/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played/) [Played Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-game/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Ve Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-played/) ## Related quotes > [I've played this game since I was 7 years old, and I played D-line the entire way through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bosa/i-ve-played-this-game-since-i-was-7-years-old-and-i-played-d-line-the/) [Nick Bosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bosa/) > [I never played the game for money and attention. I love football, and I've had a blast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-borland/i-never-played-the-game-for-money-and-attention-i-love-football-and-i/) [Chris Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-borland/) > [I've never played this game for financial success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-ve-never-played-this-game-for-financial-success/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [During the offseason, I didn't take any time off. And I played this game for over 20 years. So right after the season, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/during-the-offseason-i-didn-t-take-any-time-off-and-i-played-this/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [We've both played that game before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-seals/we-ve-both-played-that-game-before/) [Dan Seals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-seals/) > [I don't feel like I have anything to prove. I've played this game at a high level for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-green/i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-anything-to-prove-i-ve-played-this-game-at-a/) [A. J. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-green/) > [I've played the game for 23, 24 years. Four months off, I'm not going to lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-koepka/i-ve-played-the-game-for-23-24-years-four-months-off-i-m-not-going-to/) [Brooks Koepka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-koepka/) > [Take a bow. Hear the applause? My heart is broken and youre the cause. I played the game and it looks like youve won.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blondie/take-a-bow-hear-the-applause-my-heart-is-broken-and-youre-the-cause-i/) [Blondie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blondie/) > [Yeah we dated. but you played a game I never thought you could play before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blondie/yeah-we-dated-but-you-played-a-game-i-never-thought-you-could-play/) [Blondie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blondie/) > [All I can say is that I played the game in true spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-sreesanth/all-i-can-say-is-that-i-played-the-game-in-true-spirit/) [S. Sreesanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-sreesanth/) > [Take the hardcore gamers. The characters are way more real in the world of hardcore gamers who have played the game for hundreds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwe-boll/take-the-hardcore-gamers-the-characters-are-way-more-real-in-the/) [Uwe Boll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwe-boll/) > [That's the way I've always played the game from when I was a kid. It didn't matter if we were up or down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/that-s-the-way-i-ve-always-played-the-game-from-when-i-was-a-kid-it/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [Playing the game for money produces the proper professional attitude. It inculcates the lunch-pail state of mind that shows up for work despite rain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/playing-the-game-for-money-produces-the-proper-professional-attitude/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The money is nice, but I am not in this game for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-c-prescott/the-money-is-nice-but-i-am-not-in-this-game-for-the-money/) [Edward C. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-c-prescott/) > [“The soap opera was followed by a game show: money for nothing was coming back into fashion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zin-murphy/the-soap-opera-was-followed-by-a-game-show-money-for-nothing-was/) [Zin Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zin-murphy/) ## More by Zach Ertz > [I'm a lot bigger than a lot of these DBs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-m-a-lot-bigger-than-a-lot-of-these-dbs/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I'm not going to be perfect on the field, I'm not going to be perfect in my postgame answers or any media session.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-m-not-going-to-be-perfect-on-the-field-i-m-not-going-to-be-perfect/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [My goal definitely isn't to be top five. It's to be the best in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/my-goal-definitely-isn-t-to-be-top-five-it-s-to-be-the-best-in-the/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I went to Stanford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-went-to-stanford/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [What I've learned, being in this league, is you can't take things personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/what-i-ve-learned-being-in-this-league-is-you-can-t-take-things/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I'm focusing on being the best I can for my teammates - catching as many balls and putting in as many good blocks as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-m-focusing-on-being-the-best-i-can-for-my-teammates-catching-as/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [My wife Julie and I are driven to make positive and enduring change in our beloved city of Philadelphia, in California, in Haiti, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/my-wife-julie-and-i-are-driven-to-make-positive-and-enduring-change/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I think I had a good rookie year, but at the end of the day, I want to be one of the best tight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-think-i-had-a-good-rookie-year-but-at-the-end-of-the-day-i-want-to/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [Just trying not to have a weakness in any part of my game - that's always been the approach in all aspects of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/just-trying-not-to-have-a-weakness-in-any-part-of-my-game-that-s/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I just focus on taking a deep breath, staying calm, and not trying to make the situation bigger than it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-just-focus-on-taking-a-deep-breath-staying-calm-and-not-trying-to/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I don't want to be viewed as a weakness in any means. I don't want to be viewed as a weakness in the passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-don-t-want-to-be-viewed-as-a-weakness-in-any-means-i-don-t-want-to/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I rarely drop the ball, and hopefully that trend continues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-rarely-drop-the-ball-and-hopefully-that-trend-continues/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [If you look at the great tight ends in this league, the first thing that stands out is touchdowns. Just like at fantasy football.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/if-you-look-at-the-great-tight-ends-in-this-league-the-first-thing/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [As an athlete, I feel like I have a little bit of control - or a lot of control - of the situation. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/as-an-athlete-i-feel-like-i-have-a-little-bit-of-control-or-a-lot-of/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [When I was younger, I initially hated football because they put me on the offensive line because I was the biggest kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/when-i-was-younger-i-initially-hated-football-because-they-put-me-on/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) [Explore all 98 Zach Ertz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) ## More Game quotes > [Raised by game where niggas ain't phased by fame. Come to the crib, get banged, they take your chain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/raised-by-game-where-niggas-ain-t-phased-by-fame-come-to-the-crib-get/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [I've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [I've always been very hard on myself, and I never want to get to a point where I'm like, 'Alright, I'm kicking butt,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/i-ve-always-been-very-hard-on-myself-and-i-never-want-to-get-to-a/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) [Gene Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-scott/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Often in my game as an actor, someone else pays for your travel and there's nothing like being able to lie flat on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/often-in-my-game-as-an-actor-someone-else-pays-for-your-travel-and/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [With the Capital One Bowl, the average fan might think whoopty do. But if you are a team member, you win that game and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/with-the-capital-one-bowl-the-average-fan-might-think-whoopty-do-but/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [I remember throughout middle school and high school how excited my mom, sister and I would be when a UNC game was on TV.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-remember-throughout-middle-school-and-high-school-how-excited-my/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Obviously, I want to win, but at the same time, at the end of the day, it's a game and that's what I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/obviously-i-want-to-win-but-at-the-same-time-at-the-end-of-the-day-it/) [Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/) > [It's more than a game. It's an institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hughes/it-s-more-than-a-game-it-s-an-institution/) [Thomas Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hughes/) > [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/) [Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/) [Browse all 13,309 Game quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never played the game for money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zach Ertz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Game" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/zach-ertz-6576_game_i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money-190_1903392.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/zach-ertz-6576_game_i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money-190_1903392.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/zach-ertz-6576_game_i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money-190_1903392.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've never played the game for money.” — Zach Ertz", "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": "Zach Ertz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've never played the game for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-ve-never-played-the-game-for-money/#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 } } ] } ```