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Football (soccer) is a matter of life and death, except more important.
Bill Shankly
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the extreme passion and significance that football holds for many people, often eclipsing even the most vital aspects of life.

Bill Shankly's quote highlights the profound impact that football has on fans, players, and cultures around the world. It suggests that the emotional investment and societal implications tied to the sport elevate it beyond mere recreation, implying that for many, football embodies essential values and identity that they deem even more critical than matters of life and death. This passionate perspective showcases how deeply ingrained football is in the fabric of society, serving as a source of joy, community, and sometimes, a lifeline.

Themes

FootballPassionImportanceLifeDeath

In practice

Example use cases

In a sports podcast discussing the emotional ties that fans have with their teams.

More from Bill Shankly

Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.
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Fire in your belly comes from pride and passion in wearing the red shirt. We don't need to motivate players because each of them is responsible for the performance of the team as a whole. The status of Liverpool's players keeps them motivated.
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One day in 1959, when Huddersfield were playing Cardiff City, Tom (T.V.) Williams, who was then chairman of Liverpool, and Harry Latham, a director, came down the slope at Leeds Road to see me. _x000D_ Mr Williams said, 'How would you like to manage the best club in the country?' _x000D_ 'Why, is Matt Busby packing it up?' I asked.
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The socialism I believe in isn't really politics. It is a way of living. It is humanity. I believe the only way to live and to be truly successful is by collective effort, with everyone working for each other, everyone helping each other, and everyone having a share of the rewards at the end of the day. That might be asking a lot, but it's the way I see football and the way I see life.
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