Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by John Wooden (American Basketball Coach)

John Robert Wooden (1910–2010) was an American basketball player and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport. Known for his success at the University of California-Los Angeles, his leadership philosophy, and his emphasis on character and teamwork, he left a lasting legacy both on and off the basketball court.

Born in Hall, Indiana, Wooden attended Purdue University, where he played basketball and was an All-American athlete. After graduating in 1932, he briefly played professional basketball before transitioning to coaching. His coaching career began at the high school level and later included successful stints at Indiana State University and UCLA, where he would become legendary.

Wooden’s most significant achievements came during his tenure as head coach of the UCLA Bruins. Over a span of 27 years, he led the team to 10 NCAA championships, including a record seven consecutive titles 1967–73. His emphasis on discipline, teamwork, and a strong work ethic made his teams dominant in college basketball.

One of his most popular works is Wooden on Leadership (2005,) in which he shares his coaching philosophy, offering wisdom on personal development, teamwork, and leadership. Another notable publication, They Call Me Coach (1972,) reflects on his life and coaching career, providing insights into his approach to success and character-building.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by John Wooden

Next to love, balance is the most important thing.
—John Wooden
Topics: Balance, Love

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

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
—John Wooden
Topics: Planning, Work, 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

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

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

You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.
—John Wooden
Topics: Praise, Criticism

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.
—John Wooden
Topics: Faith, Prayer

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 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.
—John Wooden
Topics: Success, Success & Failure

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

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

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

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

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

Make each day a Masterpiece.
—John Wooden

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

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

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

Don’t let what you can’t do stand in the way of what you can.
—John Wooden
Topics: Success

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

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

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

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

Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
—John Wooden
Topics: Potential, Doing Your Best, Ability, Measuring, Achieving, Vision, Reflection, Accomplishment

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

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

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

All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.
—John Wooden

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

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