Sports Figures / Coaches

91 Inspiring John Wooden Quotes (LEADERSHIP)

Top 9 Most Famous John Wooden Quotes (BEST)

“You can never make up for a lost day… Don’t think you can make up for it by working twice as hard tomorrow. If you have it within your power to work twice as hard, why aren’t you doing it now?”

John Wooden
If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.Pin
If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.
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.Pin
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.
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.Pin
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.Pin
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?Pin
If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.Pin
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.
Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you.Pin
Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you.
Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.Pin
Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

11 Motivational John Wooden Quotes About Life

“Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendships 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.”

John Wooden
The most important thing in the world is family and love.Pin
The most important thing in the world is family and love.
You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.Pin
You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
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.Pin
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.
Happiness begins where selfishness ends.Pin
Happiness begins where selfishness ends.

Friendship is two-sided. It isn’t a friend just because someone’s doing something nice for you. That’s a nice person. There’s friendship when you do for each other. It’s like marriage – it’s two-sided.”

John Wooden
If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.Pin
If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.
My eyesight is not nearly as good. My hearing is probably going away. My memory is slipping too. But I’m still around.Pin
My eyesight is not nearly as good. My hearing is probably going away. My memory is slipping too. But I’m still around.
Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.Pin
Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.
What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.Pin
What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.
Well, your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.Pin
Well, your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.

12 Wise John Wooden Quotes to Live By (WISDOM)

“When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens – and when it happens, it lasts.”

John Wooden
You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.Pin
You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.
If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.Pin
If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.
I think you have to be what you are. Don’t try to be somebody else. You have to be yourself at all times.Pin
I think you have to be what you are. Don’t try to be somebody else. You have to be yourself at all times.
Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.Pin
Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.Pin
Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
Tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember a story.Pin
Tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember a story.
Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures often make the biggest difference.Pin
Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures often make the biggest difference.
All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.Pin
All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.
Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.Pin
Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.
The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.Pin
The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you.Pin
Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you.

16 John Wooden Quotes on Success and Winning

“I worry that business leaders are more interested in material gain than they are in having the patience to build up a strong organization, and a strong organization starts with caring for their people.”

John Wooden
Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s in your power.Pin
Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s in your power.
The best competition I have is against myself to become better.Pin
The best competition I have is against myself to become better.
Passion is momentary; love is enduring.Pin
Passion is momentary; love is enduring.
I think that in any group activity – whether it be business, sports, or family – there has to be leadership or it won’t be successful.Pin
I think that in any group activity – whether it be business, sports, or family – there has to be leadership or it won’t be successful.
I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs.Pin
I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs.
Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.Pin
Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.Pin
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time.Pin
Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time.
Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.Pin
Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.
We can have no progress without change, whether it be basketball or anything else.Pin
We can have no progress without change, whether it be basketball or anything else.
You are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes.Pin
You are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes.
The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.Pin
The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.
Just do the best you can. No one can do more than that.Pin
Just do the best you can. No one can do more than that.
It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it.Pin
It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it.
If there’s anything you could point out where I was a little different, it was the fact that I never mentioned winning.Pin
If there’s anything you could point out where I was a little different, it was the fact that I never mentioned winning.

14 John Wooden Quotes that will Make You Think

“There’s as much crookedness as you want to find. There was something Abraham Lincoln said – he’d rather trust and be disappointed than distrust and be miserable all the time. Maybe I trusted too much.”

John Wooden
The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.Pin
The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.
Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.Pin
Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.
If you’re true to yourself, you’re going to be true to everyone else.Pin
If you’re true to yourself, you’re going to be true to everyone else.
It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.Pin
It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.
I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.Pin
I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.
Although there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.Pin
Although there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.
Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.Pin
Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.
It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.Pin
It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.
You can do more good by being good than any other way.Pin
You can do more good by being good than any other way.
It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.Pin
It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
When you hurry you’re more apt to make mistakes. But you have to be quick. If you’re not quick you can’t get things done.Pin
When you hurry you’re more apt to make mistakes. But you have to be quick. If you’re not quick you can’t get things done.
You can lose when you outscore somebody in a game. And you can win when you’re outscored.Pin
You can lose when you outscore somebody in a game. And you can win when you’re outscored.
I think permitting the game to become too physical takes away a little bit of the beauty.Pin
I think permitting the game to become too physical takes away a little bit of the beauty.

14 John Wooden Quotes on Coaching and Learning

“In the end, it’s about the teaching, and what I always loved about coaching was the practices. Not the games, not the tournaments, not the alumni stuff. But teaching the players during practice was what coaching was all about to me.”

John Wooden
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.Pin
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.Pin
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.
I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.Pin
I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.
If I am through learning, I am through.Pin
If I am through learning, I am through.
Never try to be better than someone else. Learn from others, and try to be the best you can be. Success is the by-product of that preparation.Pin
Never try to be better than someone else. Learn from others, and try to be the best you can be. Success is the by-product of that preparation.

“Somebody asked me – you know, how come it took you so long to win a national championship? And I said, ‘I’m a slow learner; but you notice when I learn something, I have it down pretty good.’”

John Wooden
I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don’t criticize a teammate. Never be late.Pin
I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don’t criticize a teammate. Never be late.
Discipline yourself, and others won’t need to.Pin
Discipline yourself, and others won’t need to.
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.Pin
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.
I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn’t try to run their lives.Pin
I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn’t try to run their lives.
If I were a young coach today, I would be extremely careful in selecting assistants.Pin
If I were a young coach today, I would be extremely careful in selecting assistants.
If a player’s not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He’ll come around.Pin
If a player’s not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He’ll come around.
I don’t think I was a fine game coach. I’m trying to be honest. I think I was a good practice coach.Pin
I don’t think I was a fine game coach. I’m trying to be honest. I think I was a good practice coach.

15 Short Inspirational John Wooden Quotes

Make each day your masterpiece.Pin
Make each day your masterpiece.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.Pin
Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.
Young people need models, not critics.Pin
Young people need models, not critics.
It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.Pin
It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
Nothing will work unless you do.Pin
Nothing will work unless you do.
Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better.Pin
Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better.
Never lie, never cheat, never steal.Pin
Never lie, never cheat, never steal.
Be prepared and be honest.Pin
Be prepared and be honest.
Listen if you want to be heard.Pin
Listen if you want to be heard.
Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.Pin
Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.
Today is the only day. Yesterday is gone.Pin
Today is the only day. Yesterday is gone.
Ability is a poor man’s wealth.Pin
Ability is a poor man’s wealth.
Never mistake activity for achievement.Pin
Never mistake activity for achievement.
I don’t believe in praying to win.Pin
I don’t believe in praying to win.
Earn the right to be proud and confident.Pin
Earn the right to be proud and confident.
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(MUST READ) Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

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Inspiring John Wooden Quotes (LEADERSHIP) - Gracious QuotesPin
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