Ever notice that people never say “It’s only a game” when they’re winning?
—Ivern Ball (1926–92) American Writer, Aphorist
If you can’t win, make the guy ahead of you break the record.
—Anonymous
If you don’t try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody’s back yard. The thrill of competing carries with it the thrill of a gold medal. One wants to win to prove himself the best.
—Jesse Owens (1913–80) American Track-and-Field Athlete
How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser.
—Lou Holtz (1893–1980) American Stage Performer
A winner never stops trying.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
Remember that the horse that finishes a neck ahead wins the race.
—Unknown
Winners never quit, and quitters never win.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
One characteristic of winners is they always look upon themselves as a do it yourself project.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Nobody remembers who finished second but the guy who finished second.
—Bobby Unser (1934–2021) American Automobile Racer
The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
The cheerful loser is the winner.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
No wife can endure a gambling husband, unless he is a steady winner.
—Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar (1864–1930) Scottish Businessperson
Learn to think like a winner. Think positive and visualize your strengths.
—Vic Braden (b.1929) American Sportsperson, Author
Life is strange. Every so often a good man wins.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.
—Larry Bird (b.1956) American Basketball Player
There is nothing to winning, really. That is, if you happen to be blessed with a keen eye, an agile mind, and no scruples whatsoever.
—Alfred Hitchcock (1899–1980) British-born American Film Director, Film Producer
If you’re going to dedicate every second to winning the decathlon, what are you doing wasting your time in bed?
—Bruce Jenner (b.1949) American Sportsperson
All right Mister, let me tell you what winning means… you’re willing to go longer, work harder, give more than anyone else.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
Nothing can seem foul to those who win.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Resting on your laurels is as dangerous as resting when you are walking in the snow. You doze off and die in your sleep.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
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 (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul.
—Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet (1786–1845) English Politician, Social Reformer
In order to win you must be prepared to lose something. And leave one or two cards showing.
—Van Morrison
It’s not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.
—Bear Bryant (1913–83) American Sportsperson
Whoever wishes to win in this game must have patience and money, since the values are so little constant and the rumors so little founded on truth.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that’s more productive.
—Donald Trump (b.1946) American Businessperson, Head of State
Nothing great is lightly won, nothing won is lost. Every good deed that’s nobly done will always repay the cost.
—Unknown
A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits.
—Unknown