“In games and sports, winning is one thing that is very important. However, maintaining the spirit of sportsmanship is far more important than just getting a win.”

Last update Nov. 30, 2023. History

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“There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game.”

Lionel Messi (1987) Argentine association football player

“The spirit, the will to win and the will to excel - these are the things what will endure and these are the qualities that are so much more important than any of the events themselves. ”

Vince Lombardi (1913–1970) American football player, coach, and executive

Variant: The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel, are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.

“It's important that you win games at any level.”

Phil Brown (footballer) (1959) English association football player and manager

27-Feb-2009, Hull Daily Mail
He's getting the hang of this football management lark!

“You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.”

Arthur Ashe (1943–1993) American tennis player

“The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in Life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Pierre de Coubertin (1863–1937) Founder of modern Olympic Games, pedagogue and historian

As quoted in The Olympian (1984) by Peter L. Dixon, p. 210
Context: The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in Life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. To spread these principles is to build up a strong and more valiant and, above all, more scrupulous and more generous humanity.