proverb · Words worth keeping
Play by the rules, but be ferocious.
Play by the rules, but be ferocious.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The instruction joins following rules with being ferocious. It asks for intense effort within an acknowledged set of limits.
What the words are saying
But makes compliance sound compatible with strong determination rather than passivity. A responsible interpretation can concern energetic participation without making ferocity an excuse for intimidation. The phrase does not identify which rules are justified or guarantee success.
Everyday example
A competitor prepares thoroughly and pursues the contest energetically while respecting the agreed limits.
When to use it
Use it to discuss determined effort with restraint and fair conduct.
What it does not mean
Intensity does not justify harm or prove a rule fair.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 191; PDF page 31
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.