John Wooden was born on October 14, 1910. He was a successful coach, a dedicated husband, and a faithful Christian. These good character qualities have made him a venerated image not just in basketball but also with life in general. More than being a motivation to many, quotes by John Wooden have affected many people’s lives. He was a real icon, both on and off the court. Though he first achieved fame with his work coaching, he became a true voice for a generation based on his writing and teachers. As he always said, he was a teacher first. John Wooden quotes will make you realize the meaning of hard work, work hard to achieve your goals and dreams.
35 John Wooden Quotes
- “Success is never final, failure is never fatal, and it’s courage that counts.” John Wooden
- “Never mistake activity for achievement.” John Wooden
- “If you sacrifice principle trying to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one.” John Wooden
- “Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” John Wooden
- “Today is the only day. Yesterday’s gone.” John Wooden
- “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” John Wooden
- “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Wooden
- “Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.” John Wooden
- “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” John Wooden
- “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” John Wooden
- “Friendship is two-sided. It isn’t a friend just because someone’s doing something nice for you. That’s a nice person. There’s friendship when you do for each other. It’s like marriage it’s two-sided.” John Wooden
- “I think you have to be what you are. Don’t try to be somebody else. You have to be yourself at all times.” John Wooden
- “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.” John Wooden
- “Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s in your power.” John Wooden
- “Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.” John Wooden
- “The more concerned we become over the things we can’t control, the less we will do with the things we can control.” John Wooden
- “Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” John Wooden
- “Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.” John Wooden
- “Well, if you’re true to yourself you’re going to be true to everyone else.” John Wooden
- “Make each day a masterpiece. Don’t think your best days are out there somewhere. Why not today? Why can’t today be a great day? It can if you believe it will.” John Wooden
- “Young people need models, not critics.” John Wooden
- “Never lie, never cheat, never steal.” John Wooden
- “Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time.” John Wooden
- “Ability is a poor man’s wealth.” John Wooden
- “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” John Wooden
- “Don’t permit fear of failure to prevent effort. We are all imperfect and will fail on occasions, but fear of failure is the greatest failure of all.” John Wooden
- “Set a realistic goal. Concentrate on its achievement by resisting all temptations and being determined and persistent.” John Wooden
- “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.” John Wooden
- “We can have no progress without change, whether it be basketball or anything else.” John Wooden
- “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” John Wooden
- “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” John Wooden
- “The best competition I have is against myself, to become better.” John Wooden
- “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” John Wooden
- “Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you.” John Wooden
- “You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.” John Wooden
