John Wooden Quotes

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.

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail . . . Never mistake activity for achievement . .

Why can’t we realize that it only weakens those we want to help when we do things for them that they should do for themselves?

You will find that success and attention to details, the smallest details, usually go hand in hand, in basketball and elsewhere in your life.

Be quick - but don't hurry.

The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.

Good values are like a magnet, they attract good people.

Politeness and courtesy are a small price to pay for the goodwill of others.

You must know who you are and be true to who you are if you are going to be who you can and should become.

winning is not the point. Wanting to win is the point. Not giving up is the point. Never being satisfied with what you’ve done is the point. Never letting up is the point. Never letting anyone down is the point. Play to win. Sure. But lose like a champion. Because it’s not winning that counts. What counts is trying.

If we are surrounded by flawless individuals, it can make our own mistakes seem magnified. And if a problem appears overlarge, it becomes more intimidating to attempt to overcome it.

The vast majority of Americans are good: the mothers and fathers, the working people, the children, the vast overwhelming majority — millions and millions and millions. A small, small percentage are otherwise. They get the attention. But we mustn’t forget the tremendous good we have within us as a people. I have a very positive opinion of America and our citizens. My opinion of the media and what they try to tell us about ourselves is perhaps not quite as high (although there, too, the majority of them are good and mean well). The media play up what’s wrong more than what’s right, and most of what we have is right. As we work to correct what is wrong, we must always keep in mind all the things that are right with America and Americans.

Ciò che conta è quello che impari quando sai già tutto.

It is most difficult in my mind, to seperate success, whether it be in your profession, your family, or as in my case, in basketball, from religion.

when we are out of sympathy with the young, our work in this world is over.