John Wooden Quotes

Compiled by Jeff Fenske
ToBeFree

“Success
is peace of mind
which is a direct result of
self-satisfaction in knowing
you did your best to become
the best you are capable of becoming.”

•

“Never try to be better than someone else.
Learn from others,
and try to be the best you can be.
Success is the by-product of that preparation.”

•

“Happiness begins where selfishness ends.”

“It’s the little details that are vital.
Little things make big things happen.”

“Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

“There is nothing stronger than gentleness.”

“Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.”

“Make every day your masterpiece. “

“I always tried to make clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere.”
“Be prepared and be honest.”
“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.”
“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but what you should have accomplished with your ability.”
“Things turn out best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out.”
“There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.”
“It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”
“Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.”
“The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”
“The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”
“Tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember a story.”
“Listen if you want to be heard”
“Although there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.”
“If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.”
“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”
“Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”
“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

“For an athlete to function properly, he must be intent. There has to be a definite purpose and goal if you are to progress. If you are not intent about what you are doing, you aren’t able to resist the temptation to do something else that might be more fun at the moment.”

“Talent is God given. Be humble.
Fame is man-given. Be grateful.
Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

“The most important key to achieving great success is to decide upon your goal and launch, get started, take action, move.”
“It is most difficult, in my mind, to separate any success, whether it be in your profession, your family, or as in my case, in basketball, from religion.”
“Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.”
“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”
“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”
“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”
“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
“Although I wanted my players to work to win, I tried to convince them they had always won when they had done their best.”
“Consider the rights of others before your own feelings,
and the feelings of others before your own rights.”
“Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.”
“Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.”
“Never mistake activity for achievement.”
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
“If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me.”

“Remember this your lifetime through:
Tomorrow there will be more to do.
And failure waits for all who stay
With some success made yesterday.
Tomorrow you must try once more,
And even harder than before.”

Related:
“No Hate,” Himself (John Wooden) Recognized as the Greatest Coach! Why?
John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success
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