After you have won a game, you can maybe smile for a minute and

Hear, O seeker of strength, the words of Per Mertesacker, the warrior of the field who declared: “After you have won a game, you can maybe smile for a minute and then you have to think: ‘How can I recover as quickly as possible.’” Though spoken in the world of sport, these words carry the resonance of eternal wisdom, for they teach us about victory, humility, and the ceaseless march of life beyond a single triumph.

For what is it to win? It is a momentary blaze, a spark that shines in the darkness—but a spark that fades quickly if not followed by discipline. The smile of victory is sweet, but fleeting; to cling too long to it is to be ensnared by pride, forgetting that tomorrow brings new battles. Thus, the wise do not rest in their victories, but use them as stepping-stones, ever mindful of the greater path that stretches ahead.

The ancients themselves spoke of this truth. Consider the tale of Alexander the Great, who after conquering lands vast and unnumbered, was said to weep because no more worlds remained to conquer. His victories, though mighty, could not sustain him, for he had not learned the art of recovery and balance. The lesson is clear: victory alone is not enough; the soul must be ready for what follows—whether rest, renewal, or the next challenge.

Mertesacker, hardened in the crucible of battle on the football field, knew that triumph is not the end but only a pause in the endless rhythm of effort. A game is won, a crowd may cheer, but the body must be tended, the mind must refocus, the heart must steady itself. For the next trial awaits, and only the one who recovers swiftly may endure the long season of struggle. This truth is not bound to sport alone, but to all of life.

How many, O listener, have fallen not in defeat but in victory? They rest too long in their smile, intoxicated by success, and when the next trial comes, they are unprepared. The wise, however, learn to taste the joy, then set it aside, turning their thoughts to renewal. They do not despise their triumphs, but neither do they worship them. Instead, they walk forward, stronger, steadier, ready for what comes next.

The teaching also speaks of humility. To smile only for a minute is to acknowledge that success does not make us gods. It is but one step on the path of becoming. To recover quickly is to honor the truth that we are flesh, bound by limits, needing rest and renewal. Pride declares, “I am invincible!” but wisdom whispers, “I am human, and I must prepare again.” It is this humility that makes greatness endure.

Therefore, O traveler, learn this lesson: rejoice in your victories, but do not linger. Smile, then ask, “What must I do next?” When you triumph in work, in study, in life’s battles, do not let your heart grow idle. Rest with purpose, renew your strength, and rise again for the trials yet to come. For life is not one battle, but many, not one game, but a season that stretches until the final whistle of death.

Thus is the wisdom of Mertesacker: that true victory lies not only in the winning, but in the preparation for what follows. To smile is to acknowledge the moment; to recover is to prepare for eternity. Carry this rhythm in your days, and you will not be conquered by either defeat or success, but will endure with strength and dignity, walking the path of resilience until the end.