Who said “Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy,…”?

Verified

George Orwell. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"The Sporting Spirit", Tribune (14 December 1945)

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“Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting.”
— George Orwell
Verified"The Sporting Spirit", Tribune (14 December 1945) · evidenceSports
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "The Sporting Spirit", Tribune (14 December 1945).

APA

Orwell, G. (n.d.). Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38665-serious-sport-has-nothing-to-do-with-fair/

MLA

Orwell, George. “Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38665-serious-sport-has-nothing-to-do-with-fair/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Orwell, George. “Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/38665-serious-sport-has-nothing-to-do-with-fair/.

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