John Wooden Quotes

“Success is peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction and knowing you’ve made the effort, do the best of what you’re capable.”

“Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self-given; be careful.”

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

“Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.”

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

“The four laws of learning are: the first is demonstration of what you want. The second is the criticism of the demonstration. The third is the imitation of the correct model, and the fourth is repetition, over and over until it becomes habit where is you don’t think about it.”

“It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

“Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow.”

“You should never try to be better than someone else, you should always be learning from others. But you should never cease trying to be the best you could be because that’s under your control and the other isn’t.
quoting his father”

“The four laws of learning are: the first is demonstration of what you want. The second is the criticism of the demonstration.”

“Don't let yesterday take up too much of today.”

“Don't let things you can't do stop you from doing things you can.”

“Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time”

“Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”

“Worry more about your character than your reputation. Character is what you are, reputation merely what others think you are.”

“The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”

“There is nothing stronger than gentleness.”

“Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating… too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living they forget to make a life.”

“The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”

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

“Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures often make the biggest difference.”

“If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.”

“Tell the truth. That way you don't have to remember a story.”

“If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me.”

“The man who is afraid to risk failure seldom has to face success.”

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

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

“You are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes”

“Failure is not fatal but failure to change might be.”

“Don't mistake activity with achievement.”

“If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over?”

“It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”

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

“Discipline yourself and others won't need to.”

“Happiness begins where selfishness ends.”

“Listen if you want to be heard”

“Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life.”

“Five years from now, you’re the same person except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read.”

“Be quick, but don't hurry.”

“Remember this your lifetime through:
Tomorrow there will be more to do.
And failure waits for all who stay
With some success made yesterday.
Tomorrow you must try once more,
And even harder than before.”

“Being average means you are as close to the bottom as you are to the top.”

“Make every day your masterpiece.”

“Although there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.”

“Your reputation is what you're perceived to be,
Your character is what you really are”

“It isn't about what you do, but how you do it”

“The main ingredient of stardom, is the rest of the team.”

“Never try to be better than somebody else. But most importantly, never cease trying to be the best you can be.”

“Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.”

“A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself for the group, for the good of the group — that’s teamwork.”

“Young people need models, not critics.”

“I do not have the right, Bill, but I do have the right to say who is going to play on my team and we’re going to miss you.
reported by Bill Walton, about his right to wear his hair long”

“Don’t beat yourself. That’s the worst kind of defeat you’ll ever suffer.
reported by Bill Walton”

“You control the terms of the conflict. Make them play your game. Don’t try to play theirs.
reported by Bill Walton”

“The outstanding coach is a teacher that gets all his squad to accept the role that he considers to be the most important for the welfare of all.”

“Ability is a poor man's wealth. ”

“Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who'll argue with you.”

“Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books - especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day.”

“Never mistake activity for achievement.”