Inspirational Quotes by John Wooden (American Sportsperson)

Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.
—John Wooden
Topics: Success, Failure

Success is peace of mind, a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming, and not just in a physical way: seek ye first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be yours as well.
—John Wooden
Topics: Success & Failure, Satisfaction, Success

Young people need models, not critics…
—John Wooden
Topics: Youth

Although I wanted my players to work to win, I tried to convince them they had always won when they had done their best.
—John Wooden
Topics: Winners, Winning

It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.
—John Wooden
Topics: Learning, Success

If you go as far as you can see, you will then see enough to go even farther.
—John Wooden
Topics: Vision

Don’t mistake activity with achievement.
—John Wooden

Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
—John Wooden
Topics: Success, Focus, Exercise, Performance, Helping, Confidence, Ability, General, Achieving

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.
—John Wooden
Topics: Purpose

An effective leader allows exceptions to the rule for exceptional results or when circumstance demands.
—John Wooden

Stubborness we deprecate,
Firmness we condone,
The former is our neighbors trait,
The latter is our own.
—John Wooden

Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.
—John Wooden
Topics: Humility, Talent, Thankfulness

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
—John Wooden
Topics: Ability

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.
—John Wooden
Topics: Passion

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.
—John Wooden

Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.
—John Wooden
Topics: Talent

Sports do not build character. They reveal it.
—John Wooden
Topics: Sports, Character, One liners

Give it away to get it back. There is a wonderful, almost mystical, law of nature that says three of the things we want most—happiness, freedom, and peace of mind—are always attained when we give them to others.
—John Wooden

If I am through learning, I am through.
—John Wooden
Topics: Learning, Learn

Don’t mistake activity for achievement.
—John Wooden
Topics: Mistakes, Success & Failure, Achievement, Success

If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.
—John Wooden
Topics: Mistakes

You cannot attain and maintain physical condition unless you are morally and mentally conditioned. And it is impossible to be in moral condition unless you are spiritually conditioned. I always told my players that our team condition depended on two factors—how hard they worked on the floor during practice and how well they behaved between practices.
—John Wooden
Topics: Mind, The Mind

You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
—John Wooden
Topics: Satisfaction, Kindness, Graduation, Sacrifice

Be prepared and be honest.
—John Wooden
Topics: Honesty

Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
—John Wooden
Topics: Feelings

It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
—John Wooden
Topics: Success, Persistence, Perseverance

What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player.
—John Wooden

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.
—John Wooden
Topics: Success

I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.
—John Wooden
Topics: Success, Talent

It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.
—John Wooden
Topics: Excellence, Success

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