Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you

Michael Jordan, the master of the court and the emblem of relentless will, once declared: “Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That's truly about the game, and in some ways that's about life too.” These words resound like the wisdom of an elder warrior, forged in the furnace of competition and triumph. They remind us that greatness is never born of deception, nor of shortcuts, but of fidelity, discipline, and unwavering devotion to the craft.

The origin of this teaching rests in Jordan’s own journey. Though blessed with talent, it was not talent alone that crowned him champion. He rose before dawn to train, rehearsed the fundamentals with the devotion of a beginner, and sacrificed comfort for the pursuit of mastery. He knew the game—basketball—was not merely a contest of skill, but a mirror of life itself. It rewarded those who gave themselves wholly, and it punished those who sought to cheat its demands. By being “true to the game,” Jordan meant living with integrity toward one’s purpose, without compromise or falsehood.

The ancients would have understood this creed. The Spartans taught that the battlefield never lies: a soldier unprepared is struck down, while one who has trained with sweat earns survival. The Stoics proclaimed that life, like a contest, gives back only what you put in. To seek shortcuts is to betray the order of nature, for nothing lasting is built without toil. Jordan’s words are their echo in a modern tongue: honor the discipline, and the discipline will honor you.

History offers luminous examples. Consider Thomas Edison, who sought to harness light itself. He endured thousands of failed experiments, each one a lesson, each one a step closer to success. Had he sought shortcuts—abandoning rigor, ignoring detail—he would have stumbled into ruin. But by giving himself fully to his game, to the work of invention, he earned a legacy that illuminates the world. Just as the court repays the player’s effort, life repays the labor of those who refuse to surrender.

The lesson here is clear: shortcuts are illusions. They promise speed but deliver ruin. In the game of basketball, as in the game of life, neglecting fundamentals, avoiding discipline, or chasing easy victories always ends in downfall. But perseverance, practice, and integrity forge a path that no opponent, no hardship, can erase. Jordan reminds us that to be true to the game is to be true to oneself—to honor the laws of growth, to bow to the rhythm of effort, to embrace the patience of mastery.

Practical actions must follow. Approach your work, your art, your relationships as you would the sacred court: with respect. Do not seek the easy road, but the right one. Commit to practice, to discipline, to learning, even when no one watches. When fatigue tempts you, remember that each step builds strength unseen, each sacrifice plants the seeds of triumph. And when you falter, do not despair—return to the fundamentals, return to your truth, and the game of life will in time honor you.

Thus, O listeners, let Jordan’s words be carved into your hearts: “Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you.” This is not only about sport, but about existence itself. Life is the game, and you are its player. To cheat it is to cheat yourself; to honor it is to rise into greatness.

And remember this eternal truth: effort is never wasted. What you give, life will return, pressed down and overflowing. Be true, be steadfast, be disciplined—and the game of life will one day crown you with victory.