“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
SuccessPeace Of Mind
John Wooden Quotes
American - Basketball Coach|October 14, 1910 - June 4, 2010
50 FAMOUS QUOTES · BASKETBALL COACH
John Wooden Quotes
Read 50 of the best John Wooden quotes on success, character, teamwork, discipline and doing your best from the legendary UCLA basketball coach.
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”John Wooden
FocusPositivity
“If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”John Wooden
QualityWork
“It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”John Wooden
DetailsExcellence
“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”John Wooden
“Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts.”John Wooden
CourageSuccess
“If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.”John Wooden
MistakesAction
“It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.”John Wooden
LearningHumility
“Never mistake activity for achievement.”John Wooden
ProductivityAchievement
“Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”John Wooden
PotentialSelf Improvement
“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
EffortExcellence
“Just do the best you can. No one can do more than that.”John Wooden
EffortShort Quotes
“When you hurry you're more apt to make mistakes. But you have to be quick. If you're not quick you can't get things done.”John Wooden
SpeedPatience
“Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character.”John Wooden
WinningCharacter
“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”John Wooden
TeamworkHumility
“You can lose when you outscore somebody in a game. And you can win when you're outscored.”John Wooden
WinningEffort
“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.”John Wooden
PerseveranceFinishing
“I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.”John Wooden
TalentExperience
“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
CharacterReputation
“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”John Wooden
HumilityGratitude
“Discipline yourself, and others won't need to.”John Wooden
DisciplineSelf Control
“Earn the right to be proud and confident.”John Wooden
ConfidenceHard Work
“You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one.”John Wooden
CriticismBalance
“All of life is peaks and valleys. Don't let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.”John Wooden
BalanceLife
“It isn't what you do, but how you do it.”John Wooden
EffortAttitude
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About John Wooden
American - Basketball Coach | October 14, 1910 - June 4, 2010
John Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball player and coach, born in Hall, Indiana. A star guard at Purdue University, where he was named national player of the year in 1932, he spent his early career as an English teacher and coach before becoming head basketball coach at UCLA in 1948.
Known as the "Wizard of Westwood," Wooden led UCLA to 10 national championships in 12 years, including seven in a row, and an 88-game winning streak, records that still stand. He was the first person inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. More than a coach, he was a teacher of life lessons, famous for his "Pyramid of Success" and his focus on character, effort and doing your best. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003. Here are 50 of the best John Wooden quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about John Wooden and these famous quotes.
Who was John Wooden?
John Wooden was an American basketball coach and player, best known for leading UCLA to 10 NCAA national championships between 1964 and 1975. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in sports history.
What is the Pyramid of Success?
The Pyramid of Success is a model Wooden developed over many years, made up of 15 building blocks such as industriousness, enthusiasm, self-control, team spirit and confidence, leading to "competitive greatness" at the top.
What was Wooden's Seven-Point Creed?
When Wooden graduated from grade school, his father gave him a card with seven rules for life: Be true to yourself; help others; make each day your masterpiece; make friendship a fine art; drink deeply from good books; build a shelter against a rainy day; and pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings.
Why was John Wooden called the "Wizard of Westwood"?
The nickname came from UCLA's campus in the Westwood area of Los Angeles and from his seemingly magical success, including seven straight national titles (1967–1973) and an 88-game winning streak.
Which quotes are wrongly credited to John Wooden?
"Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself" is from Samuel Johnson, and "The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones" is from Joseph Joubert. "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out" is usually credited to Art Linkletter.
Is John Wooden in the Hall of Fame?
Yes. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1961 and as a coach in 1973, the first person honoured in both categories.