John Wooden Quotes

99 Sourced Quotes

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

John Wooden
People ask me if I'd permit fancy things, like dunks. Well, if they did dunk, it was with no fancy flair. No behind-the-back dribbles or passes unless necessary. If it was for show, you were on the bench.

John Wooden
Never make excuses. Your friends don't need them and your foes won't believe them.

John Wooden
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.

John Wooden
Be observing constantly. Stay open-minded. Be eager to learn and improve.

John Wooden
Remember, results aren't the criteria for success — it's the effort made for achievement that is most important.

John Wooden
Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self-given; be careful.

John Wooden
No building is better than its structural foundation, and no man (woman) is better than his (her) mental foundation. When I prepared my original Success Pyramid years ago, I put industriousness and enthusiasm as the two cornerstones with LOYALTY right in the middle of the pyramid - Loyalty to yourself and to all those dependent upon you.

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

John Wooden
You can lose when you outscore somebody in a game, and you can win when you're outscored.

John Wooden
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.

John Wooden
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.

John Wooden
There is no substitute for work. Worthwhile results come from hard work and careful planning.

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

John Wooden
You must be interested in finding the best way, not in having your own way.

John Wooden
Some of my greatest pleasures have come from finding ways to overcome obstacles.

John Wooden
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.

John Wooden
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.

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

John Wooden
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.

John Wooden
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.

John Wooden
Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control. Good judgment and common sense are essential.

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

John Wooden
The man who is afraid to risk failure seldom has to face success.

John Wooden
What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.

John Wooden
Although there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.

John Wooden
It's important to keep trying to do what you think is right no matter how hard it is or how often you fail. Never stop trying

John Wooden
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.

John Wooden
Don't beat yourself. That's the worst kind of defeat you'll ever suffer.

John Wooden
There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.

John Wooden