They always win who side with God.
—Frederick William Faber (1814–63) British Hymn writer, Theologian
The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Any fool can try to defend his mistakes—and most fools do—but it gives one a feeling of nobility to admit one’s mistakes. By fighting, you never get enough, but by yielding, you get more than you expected.
—Lawrence G. Lovasik
After the fact, our hearts always go out to the fallen Goliaths. Yet we invariably root for their Davids. Until they’re winners.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
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
Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
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
One characteristic of winners is they always look upon themselves as a do it yourself project.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
They who lose today may win tomorrow.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
He has not learned the first lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
Winning is only half of it. Having fun is the other half.
—Bum Phillips (1923–2013) American Football Coach
Often, the best way to win is to forget to keep score.
—Marianne Espinosa Murphy American Judge, Politician
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
The cheerful loser is the winner.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
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
A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.
—Unknown
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
If you’ve had a good time playing the game, you’re a winner even if you lose.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain—he is inspired by it. The persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem—he is challenged by it. Mountains are created to be conquered; adversities are designed to be defeated; problems are sent to be solved. It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
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
Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
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
No wife can endure a gambling husband, unless he is a steady winner.
—Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar (1864–1930) Scottish Businessperson
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
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
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
You will never win if you never begin.
—Robert H. Schuller (1926–2015) American Christian Televangelist, Author
Mankind is not disposed to look narrowly into the conduct of great victors when their victory is on the right side.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The game is the thing. The wins and losses are not the thing. One loses every time one wins, for he then has no game.
—L. Ron Hubbard (1911–86) American Scientologist Religious Leader, Novelist, Author
The winner persistently programs his pluses; the loser mournfully magnifies his minuses.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
The real and lasting victories are those of peace and not of war.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
I don’t know if I even have an aura, man. I just try to win.
—Tiger Woods (b.1975) American Sportsperson
If you can accept losing you can’t win. If you can walk you can run. No one is ever hurt. Hurt is in your mind.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (1913–70) American Football Player, Coach
Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
Winning is not everything, but the effort to win is.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
To conquer without risk is to triumph without glory.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
A winner never stops trying.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Sportsperson
Remember that the only time you really lose is when you’re not giving it 100 percent.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
Victory belongs to the most persevering.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Nothing can seem foul to those who win.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
The struggle alone pleases us, not the victory.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
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
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
Remember that the horse that finishes a neck ahead wins the race.
—Unknown
Never let defeat have the last word.
—Anonymous
The only way to be number one is to be number one.
—Indian Proverb