John Wooden Quotes

People want to believe you are sincerely interested in them as a person, not just what they can do for you.

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

The score will take care of itself when you take care of the effort that precedes the score.

Love is the most powerful four letter word.

Selfishness is the greatest challenge for a coach. Most players are more concerned with making themselves better than the team.

I believe we are most likely to succeed when ambition is focused on noble and worthy purposes and outcomes rather than on goals set out of selfishness.

Success is a personal matter - only you as an individual can tell if you did everything within your power to give your best effort

I think you have to be what you are. Don't try to be somebody else. You have to be yourself at all times.

IF you are not making mistakes, then you are not doing anything.

Great leaders are always out front with a banner, instead of behind with a whip.

You get ideas across better through listening and the pat-on-the-back method than you do with a kick on the pants.

You are no better than anyone else and no one is better than you.

Without organization and leadership toward a realistic goal, there is no chance of realizing more than a small percentage of your potential.

My assistants and I often would spend more time planning a practice than the actual practice itself

If you stay intent and your ability warrants it, you will eventually reach the top of the mountain.

Mentors are available at all stages of your leadership life - early, middle and late. Seek them out and listen; absorb their knowledge and use it.

If you lose self-control everything will fall.

Mistakes come from doing, but so does success.

The most powerful leadership tool you have is your personal example.

Show me what you can do; don't tell me what you can do.

First, do not betray yourself. Second, do not betray those you lead.

Why do we dread adversity when we know that facing it is the only way to become stronger, smarter, better?

Make today your master piece.

Real wealth comes to the person who learns that we are paid best for the things we do for nothing.

Adaptability is being able to adjust to any situation at any given time.

Nothing can give you greater joy than doing something for another.

Parenting is the most important profession in the world.

A coach's primary function should be not to make better players, but to make better people

There is great joy in doing something for somebody else with no thought in receiving anything in return.

The choice you make, makes you.

Make greatness attainable by all.

The uphill climb is slow,but the downhill road is fast.

There is no great fun, satisfaction, or joy derived from doing something that's easy.

Happiness begins when selfishness ends.

Don't let the things you can't do get in the way of the things you can.

I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs.

I think that in any group activity - whether it be business, sports, or family - there has to be leadership or it wont be successful.

You never fail if you know in your heart that you did the best of which you are capable.

We will begin by learning how to tie our shoes.

Make no mistake, I always want to win, but I never fight with an opponent. My fight is within me it is the struggle to be the best I can be at whatever I do.

Cervantes said the journey's better than the end. Practices, to me, were the journey.

If we, as coaches, aren't teachers, we are nothing

Wisdom subdues bigotry.

Never be disagreeable just because you disagree.

Work without joy is drudgery. Drudgery does not produce champions, nor does it produce great organizations.

Loyalty is a cohesive force that forges individuals into a team.

Never let your emotions overrule your head.

If pursuing material things becomes your only goal, you will fail in so many ways. Besides, in time all material things go away.

Don't permit fear of failure to prevent effort.

Be slow to correct and quick to commend.