Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
If you don’t see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.
—Arthur Ashe (1943–93) American Tennis Player
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
By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
I don’t know if I even have an aura, man. I just try to win.
—Tiger Woods (b.1975) American Sportsperson
Winners make it happen – losers let it happen.
Winners make choices – losers take chances.
Winners never quit and quitters never win.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
The winner persistently programs his pluses; the loser mournfully magnifies his minuses.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Skill and confidence are an unconquered army.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
It’s not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.
—Bear Bryant (1913–83) American Sportsperson
Always imitate the behavior of the winners when you lose.
—George Meredith (1828–1909) British Novelist, Poet, Critic
Winning is not everything, but the effort to win is.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right—stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
A winner never stops trying.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
Every time you win, you’re reborn; when you lose, you die a little.
—George E. Allen (1896–1973) American Sportsperson
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
Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.
—Arthur Ashe (1943–93) American Tennis Player
He has not learned the first lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.
—Polybius (c.200–c.118 BCE) Greek Historian
A loser doesn’t know what he’ll do if he loses, but talks about what he’ll do if he wins, and a winner doesn’t talk about what he’ll do if he wins, but knows what he’ll do if he loses.
—Eric Berne (1910–70) Canadian-American Psychiatrist
Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; the hardest victory is over self.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
The most natural beauty in the world is honesty and moral truth; for all beauty is truth. True features make the beauty of a face; and true proportions the beauty of architecture; as true measures that of harmony and music. In poetry, which is all fable, truth still is the perfection.
—Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–83) British Statesman
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
To conquer without risk is to triumph without glory.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.
—Bert Williams qqq
Don’t fight a battle if you don’t gain anything by winning.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
Therefore the skilful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point in business. You’ve got to keep working that talent.
—Irving Berlin (1888–1989) American Songwriter, Composer
Life is strange. Every so often a good man wins.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
Ever notice that people never say “It’s only a game” when they’re winning?
—Ivern Ball (1926–92) American Writer, Aphorist
Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning, but give me the man who has pluck to fight when he’s sure of losing. That’s my way, sir; and there are many victories worse than a defeat.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
From quiet homes and first beginning,
Out to the undiscovered ends,
There’s nothing worth the winning,
But laughter and the love of friends.
—Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) British Historian, Poet, Critic
Never let defeat have the last word.
—Anonymous
Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.
—Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942) Canadian Novelist
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
Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind’s eye and you will be drawn toward it. Picture yourself vividly as winning and that alone will contribute immeasurably to success. Great living starts with a picture, held in your imagination, of what you would like to do or be.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
The real and lasting victories are those of peace and not of war.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
You’re not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Civil Regrets Advocate, Humanitarian, Lawyer
Often, the best way to win is to forget to keep score.
—Marianne Espinosa Murphy American Judge, Politician
The cheerful loser is the winner.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher