Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Quotes

7 Sourced Quotes

Either because I was an athlete or because I was black - probably both - there seemed to be a clear assumption that I wouldn't be up to the work.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
It was my first time away from home, my first experience in an all-black situation, and I found myself being punished for everything I'd ever been taught was right. I got all A's and was hated for it; I spoke correctly and was called a punk. I had to learn a new language simply to deal with the threats. I had good manners, and was a good little boy and paid for it with my hide.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Each story, novel, poem and play presents a vision of the world that illuminates the dark cave of life we stumble through. We can see better where we're going, what sudden drop to avoid, where the cool water is running.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Pride was his life force; for us it was a live nerve that he could teach us to brush. One stroke, a good practice, and we could tingle for days... First, he found the pride in each of us, then he taught us how good it could feel. What he was ultimately after was for every one of us to learn to light our own fires and glow our brightest.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
On the hero worship of athletes:
We are more visible, but not more valuable.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
More people have to start spending as much time in the library as they do on the basketball court.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
It's the mind that makes everything else work.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar