71 Inspirational Charles Barkley Quotes (FUNNY)

Top 10 Most Famous Charles Barkley Quotes (BEST)

“No matter how hard you work at your craft and no matter how successful you become, people just have to find something negative to hang on you. You can be the greatest ever at what you do, and people will still turn on you. Even with all the championships Michael Jordan has won, people say, “Well, he’s a great basketball player but he’s not socially conscious.” The bar is always being raised as you go. The rules are always being rewritten. There’s aggravation that comes with that, but that’s part of what makes triumph so sweet.”
Charles Barkley

Poor people cannot rely on the government to come to help you in times of need. You have to get your education. Then nobody can control your destiny. — Poor people cannot rely on the government to come to help you in times of need. You have to get your **education**. Then nobody can control your destiny.

My idea of religion is we are supposed to bring people together. We are not supposed to judge other people.

Just because you say something doesn't make it controversial, and it doesn't make you a bad person. — Just because you say something doesn’t make it controversial, and it doesn’t make you a bad person.

Social media is where losers go to feel important.

“I love sports because it takes me away from reality, and I tell people, ‘No matter how bad your life is, if you are having problems at home, you are having problems at work, that’s the beauty of sports.'”
Charles Barkley

We're not all supposed to think alike. — We’re not all supposed to think alike.

The main thing to do is relax and let your talent do the work. — The main thing to do is **relax** and let your **talent** do the work.

Everybody wants to protect their own tribe, whether they are right or wrong.

At some point, I don't want to have any obligation. And just chill out. — At some point, I don’t want to have any obligation. And just chill out.

6 Wise Charles Barkley Quotes to Live by (WISDOM)

“I think sports has done a disservice for a lot of black kids thinking they can only be successful through athletics and entertainment. I want them to know they can be doctors, lawyers, teachers, fireman, police officers, etc.”
Charles Barkley

If you're scared to fail, you don't deserve to be successful. — If you’re scared to **fail**, you don’t deserve to be successful.

My message is simple take control of your life. — My message is simple: take control of your life.

You can't sit on the sidelines of life. — You can’t sit on the sidelines of life.

I think you have an obligation to be honest.

You think your parents are a pain in the a now, but they're going to get smarter as you get older. — You think your **parents** are a pain in the a** now, but they’re going to get smarter as you get older.

10 Charles Barkley Quotes that Will Make You Think

“There’s only 5 real jobs in the world. Teacher, fireman, policeman, doctor and somebody who is in the armed service. If you don’t have one of those 5 jobs, you shouldn’t take your life that serious.”
Charles Barkley

If Michael Jordan was a damn plumber, he couldn't get a date. Any guy got $500 million looks good. — If Michael Jordan was a damn plumber, he couldn’t get a date. Any guy got $500 million looks good.

If I'm going to be straightforward, like I always try to be, I know guys are going to come back at me sometimes. — If I’m going to be straightforward, like I always try to be, I know guys are going to come back at me sometimes.

One of my biggest regrets ever was not taking the time to go to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela. That is a big regret of mine. I should have figured out a way. — One of my biggest **regrets** ever was not taking the time to go to South Africa to meet **Nelson Mandela**. That is a big regret of mine. I should have figured out a way.

“I got some cash from agents. I’ve talked to the NCAA. I think that should be legal. I want some money, too; everybody else is making money. I want to go on dates. I want to go buy myself some new suits. I want to buy myself some new sneakers, and I paid the agents back.”
Charles Barkley

LeBron is a great player and a great guy, but he's a drama queen. — LeBron is a great player and a great guy, but he’s a drama queen.

I accept the media for what they are. Most of them are really good people. Some of them are scumbags.

“If you are born poor, whether white or black, you are going to be in a bad neighborhood and go to a bad school. If you are making three million dollars a year, a couple hundred thousand in taxes ain’t gonna kill you.”
Charles Barkley

Listening to a woman is almost as bad as losing to one. There are only three things that women are better at than men: cleaning, cooking, and having sex.

If all babies are so cute, how the hell do we have so many ugly people in the world?

7 Charles Barkley Quotes on Politics

“Well, when I went off to college, the guys I used to hang with were pumping gas and voting Democrat. Today they’re still pumping gas and voting Democrat. Guess the Democrats didn’t do much for them.”
Charles Barkley

Poor people have been voting for Democrats for the last 50 years and they're still poor. — Poor people have been voting for Democrats for the last 50 years and they’re still poor.

I do not use words like 'liberal' or 'conservative.' You can ask me a question, and I will give you an answer. Those are words rich people on television use to divide and conquer. — I do not use words like ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative.’ You can ask me a question, and I will give you an answer. Those are words rich people on television use to divide and conquer.

I never would say a player stinks. Ever. I'll tell you their team stinks, and first of all, they know their team stinks. And the fans know their team stinks. — I never would say a player stinks. Ever. I’ll tell you their team stinks, and first of all, they know their team stinks. And the fans know their team stinks.

“Neither one of the parties is doing anything for poor people. They’re both full of it. Black people have been voting Democratic their whole life, and they’re still poor. And the Republicans don’t do anything for poor people, either.”
Charles Barkley

Bill Clinton is the greatest president of my lifetime. Period. — **Bill Clinton** is the greatest president of my lifetime. Period.

That's one of the problems with this country: they put you in a box. You're a Republican, you're a Democrat, you're conservative, you're liberal. And that's really unfair. — That’s one of the problems with this country: they put you in a box. You’re a Republican, you’re a Democrat, you’re conservative, you’re liberal. And that’s really unfair.

10 Funny Charles Barkley Quotes to Ponder

“These are my new shoes. They’re good shoes. They won’t make you rich like me, they won’t make you rebound like me, they definitely won’t make you handsome like me. They’ll only make you have shoes like me. That’s it.”
Charles Barkley

I always laugh when people ask me about rebounding techniques. I've got a technique. It's called just go get the damn ball. — I always **laugh** when people ask me about rebounding techniques. I’ve got a **technique**. It’s called just go get the damn ball.

I read that heavy drinking is bad for your health. I decided I better stop reading. — I read that heavy drinking is bad for your **health**. I decided I better stop **reading**.

I remember sitting down with the Rockets and saying, 'Yeah. I'm going to retire.' They said, 'Well, we'll give you $9 million.' And I said, 'You got a pen on you'. — I remember sitting down with the Rockets and saying, ‘Yeah. I’m going to retire.’ They said, ‘Well, we’ll give you $9 million.’ And I said, ‘You got a pen on you?’.

Sometimes that light at the end of the tunnel is a train.

“Every time I think about changing a diaper, I run a little bit harder and a little bit faster to make sure I can afford a nanny until my daughter’s old enough to take care of that herself.”
Charles Barkley

My initial response was to sue her for defamation of character, but then I realized that I had no character. — My initial response was to sue her for defamation of **character**, but then I realized that I had no character.

Somebody hits me, I'm going to hit him back. Even if it does look like he hasn't eaten in a while. — Somebody hits me, I’m going to hit him back. Even if it does look like he hasn’t eaten in a while.

Just because you watch 'Grey's Anatomy' doesn't mean you can do the operation. — Just because you watch ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ doesn’t mean you can do the operation.

I don't know what that gas is made of, but it can't smell any worse than Ernie Johnson 's gym bag. — I don’t know what that gas is made of, but it can’t smell any worse than Ernie Johnson ‘s gym bag.

2 Charles Barkley Quotes on Being Rich

“I was asked for years about being a Republican, probably because most black people are Democrats. My mother heard it once and called me and said ‘Charles, Republicans are for the rich people.’ And I said, ‘Mom, I’m rich.'”
Charles Barkley

My family got all over me because they said Bush is only for the rich people. Then I reminded them, 'Hey, I'm rich'. — My **family** got all over me because they said Bush is only for the rich people. Then I reminded them, ‘Hey, I’m rich’.

2 Charles Barkley Quotes on Role Models

I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models. — I don’t believe professional athletes should be role models. I **believe** parents should be role models.

I'm not a role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids. — I’m not a role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your **kids**.

4 Charles Barkley Quotes on Playing Basketball

“I think it’s a travesty that the NBA can’t just tell these guys to play basketball two days in a row. It’s just a joke to me. We flew commercial, and we were able to play back-to-back.”
Charles Barkley

The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not.

I know I'm never as good or bad as one single performance. I've never believed in my critics or my worshippers, and I've always been able to leave the game at the arena. — I know I’m never as good or bad as one single performance. I’ve never believed in my critics or my worshippers, and I’ve always been able to leave the game at the arena.

If I got a chance to play with another great player, I want to do that. I mean, the objective is to win. — If I got a **chance** to play with another great player, I want to do that. I mean, the objective is to win.

10 Charles Barkley Quotes on Race

“For some reason, we’re brainwashed to think if you’re not a thug or an idiot, you’re not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don’t break the law, you’re not a good black person.”
Charles Barkley

Racism is here and will always exist, but we can't use it as a crutch. — Racism is here and will always exist, but we can’t use it as a crutch.

I think anybody who is racist is an idiot whether they are black or white.

All the poor white people, all the poor black people, all the Hispanics, they're in the same boat. They've got no economic opportunities. — All the poor white people, all the poor black people, all the Hispanics, they’re in the same boat. They’ve got no economic **opportunities**.

Everybody wants to talk about black and white, when the situation is really about rich people against poor people.

“In the locker room, and when I’m with my friends, we use racial slurs. What I do with my black friends is not up to white America to dictate to me what’s appropriate and inappropriate.”
Charles Barkley

We don't need refs, but I guess white guys need something to do. — We don’t need refs, but I guess white guys need something to do.

We, as black people, we have a lot of crooks.

White America don't get to dictate how me and Shaq talk to each other. — White America don’t get to dictate how me and **Shaq** talk to each other.

Unfortunately, as I tell my white friends, we as black people, we're never going to be successful not because of you white people but because of other black people. — Unfortunately, as I tell my white friends, we as black people, we’re never going to be successful not because of you white people but because of other black people.

2 Charles Barkley Quotes on Hispanics

“If you’re a poor white person and your life sucks, it’s easy for you to blame Hispanics cos you don’t want to look in the mirror and say, ‘I’m the reason my life sucks.’ The Republicans do a good job exploiting that.”
Charles Barkley