John Wooden Quotes

The best players don't win championships. The best team players win championships.

If a player's not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He'll come around.

Helping others is perhaps the greatest joy! You cannot have a perfect day without helping others with no thought of getting something in return.

The team with the most talent usually wins.

When everyone has good players, teaching will be a telling difference.

Generally speaking, individual performances don't win basketball games

Acquire peace of mind by making the effort to become the best of which you are capable.

Success is mine when I work my hardest to become my best, and I alone determine whether I do so.

The team that makes the most mistakes usually wins, because doers make mistakes

Good coaching is about leadership and instilling respect in your players. Dictators lead through fear - good coaches do not.

When you get to be 95, travel doesn't come as easily.

One of the greatest motivating things that a coach has is the bench. They all love to play, all of them. You sit them on the bench, and they come around pretty good.

When the legs go, the heart soon follows

When you are through learning you are through.

Big things are accomplished when we master the little things.

I don't think I was a fine game coach I think I was a good practice coach.

You have not taught until they have learned.

You control the terms of the conflict. Make them play your game. Don't try to play theirs.

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.

All change may not be progress, but all progress is the result of change

One of the greatest motivating factors is the pat on the back, although with some individuals, you have to make the pat a little lower or a little harder.

The player who puts the ball through the hoop has ten hands.

Do passing drills that come from your offense.

I wanted my players to always be searching, especially for truth. I wanted them to know what they believed and be able to defend it. Truth will always stand the test of scrutiny.

I always stress condition with my basketball players. I don’t mean physical condition only. You cannot attain and maintain physical condition unless you are morally and mentally conditioned.

Place the team above yourself always.

You have success within. It's up to you to bring it out.

I also wanted my basketball players to know that I really cared about them. Forget basketball; as a person, I cared, I cared about their family.

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

Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over?

Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and nobody knows that but you.

A leader who is through learning is through.

It is most difficult, in my mind, to separate any success, whether it bein your profession, your family, or as in my case, in basketball, fromreligion.

‎"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.

Be more concerned with character than reputation. Character is what you are, reputation is what people think you are.

When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.

If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

Don’t be afraid to fail. The greatest failure of all is not to act when action is needed.

You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.

Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

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.

Failure is never fatal. But failure to change can and might be.

If I am through learning, I am through.

If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.

Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.

I met Tiger Woods when he was younger. He's amazing - obviously technically, but his mental approach, too. He's really something.

It isn't what you do, but how you do it.