Make yourself an example, achieve it, but don't hurt anyone on the way up. I don't think I did that.

We only have two things that we share in this life; we are born and we die. And what we do in between those times, we've got to be happy. I don't let the outside world deter me.

I've always believed that the desire must come from within, not as a result of being driven by coaches or parents.

The Olympics remain the most compelling search for excellence that exists in sport, and maybe in life itself.

I don't linger on the fact that Dawn Fraser was a great swimmer 40 years ago. That was in the past. I did break 41 world records, but I don't live on that today.

It's a beautiful thing, diving into the cool crisp water and then just sort of being able to pull your body through the water and the water opening up for you.

I probably have a different mental approach to swimming than most people. I actually enjoy training.

I knew that the stronger that I was, the faster I was going to swim, and thats all I had in my mind at the time, was I wanted to be the best swimmer in the world.

If you're good at it, you can win.

I've worked hard all my life.

I can remember crawling through the window where he was in the hospital... He said, 'You have a gift... keep training for me.' I s'pose those were the last words he ever spoke to me.

Leadership comes at a cost.It’s called servant leadership.

In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else.

Writing a novel is actually searching for victims. As I write I keep looking for casualties. The stories uncover the casual

Calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg.

Good things come to those who have patience and take consistent, persistent actions toward what they want.

Stand-up comedy is the most relaxing thing I do. If I want to unwind and de-stress, I go out and do stand-up, often several shows in a night.

To rise with the lark, and go to bed with the lamb.

One day she's throwing a book at me. The next, we're making out behind the library.

The best way to get past doubt and inexperience is simply action.

Life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community.