Fitness is something that happens to you while you practice good technique.
—Terry Laughlin (1951–2017) American Swim Coach
There’s nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.
—Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) German Composer, Musician
Most of us who aspire to be tops in our fields don’t really consider the amount of work required to stay tops.
—Althea Gibson (1927–2003) American Tennis Player
We all knew there was just one way to improve our odds for survival: train, train, train. Sometimes, if your training is properly intense it will kill you. More often—much, much more often—it will save your life.
—Richard Marcinko (1940–2021) American Navy Officer
What I call “doing the dishes” is the practice of loving the task in front of you. Your inner voice guides you all day long to do simple things such as brush your teeth, drive to work, call your friend, or do the dishes. Even though it’s just another story, it’s a very short story, and when you follow the direction of the voice, the story ends. We are really alive when we live as simply as that—open, waiting, trusting, and loving to do what appears in front of us now…What we need to do unfolds before us, always—doing the dishes, paying the bills, picking up the children’s socks, brushing our teeth. We never receive more than we can handle, and there is always just one thing to do. Whether you have ten dollars or ten million dollars, life never gets more difficult than that.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
All the world’s a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.
—Sean O’Casey (1880–1964) Irish Dramatist, Memoirist
You can’t hire someone to practice for you.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
This work somehow awakened my dormant powers of will and I began to practice self-control. At first my resolutions faded like snow in April, but in a little while I conquered my weakness and felt a pleasure I never knew before—that of doing as I willed.
—Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) Serbian-American Electrical Engineer, Inventor
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.
—Yogi Berra (1925–2015) American Sportsperson
I don’t know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody—somewhere—was practicing more than me.
—Larry Bird (b.1956) American Basketball Player
To give yourself the best possible chance of playing to your potential, you must prepare for every eventuality. That means practice.
—Seve Ballesteros (1957–2011) Spanish Golf Sportsman, Champion
We need to practice acting in spite of fear, in spite of doubt, in spite of worry, in spite of uncertainty, in spite of inconvenience, in spite of discomfort, and even to practice acting when we’re not in the mood to act.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Apathy can only be overcome by enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first, an ideal which takes the imagination by storm, and second, a definite intelligible plan for carrying that ideal into practice.
—Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British Historian
The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might of the force of habit and must understand that practices are what create habits. He must be quick to break those habits that can break him and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires.
—J. Paul Getty (1892–1976) American Art Collector, Philanthropist, Businessperson
Practice is the best of all instructors.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Practice is everything.
—Periander (c.625–585 BCE) Tyrant of Corinth
From now on, I want you to practice reframing other people’s negativity as a reminder of how not to be.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Losers have tons of variety. Champions take pride in just learning to hit the same old boring winners.
—Vic Braden (b.1929) American Sportsperson, Author
And because we are creatures of habit, we must practice. I urge you to practice acting in spite of fear, practice acting in spite of inconvenience, practice acting in spite of discomfort, and practice acting even when you’re not in the mood.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The only weapon that becomes sharper with constant use is the tongue.
—Unknown
Practice is the best master.
—Latin Proverb
If I miss one day of practice, I notice it. If I miss two days, the critics notice it. If I miss three days, the audience notices it.
—Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860–1941) Polish Pianist, Composer, Politician
Don’t do anything in practice that you wouldn’t do in the game.
—George Halas
The word mantra comes from two Sanskrit words man, (“to think”) and tra (“tool”). So the literal translation is “a tool of thought”. And that’s how mantras are used in Buddhist and Hindu practices, as tools that clear your mind of distractions. Because when you focus on repeating that mantra over and over again, soon the noise will die down and all you will hear is your inner voice.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
A couple of hours of practice is worth ten sloppy rounds.
—Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1914–56) American Athlete, Golfer
I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it’s true—hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don’t love something, then don’t do it.
—Ray Bradbury (b.1920) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Everything is practice.
—Pele (1940–2022) Brazilian Soccer Player
When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro.
—Larry Bird (b.1956) American Basketball Player
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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