John Wooden Quotes

"Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others thinkyou are."

"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."

"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights."

"It isn't what you do, but how you do it."

"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."

"Never mistake activity for achievement."

"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

"Young people need models, not critics..."

"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."

"Although I wanted my players to work to win, I tried to convince them they had always won when they had done their best."

"When you get to be 95, [travel] doesn't come as easily."

"Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."

"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character."

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."

"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."

"The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones."

"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."

"A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."