John Wooden Quotes

“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, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day.”

“You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

“Your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.”

“Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life.”

“Today is the only day. Yesterday is gone.”

“Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you.”

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

“Young people need models, not critics.”

“What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.”

“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.”

“Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who'll argue with you.”

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

“We can have no progress without change, whether it be basketball or anything else.”

“I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don't criticise a teammate. Never be late.”

“Never lie, never cheat, never steal.”

“Teaching players during practices was what coaching was all about to me.”

“I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.”

“Somebody asked me how come it took you so long to win a national championship? And I said, "I'm a slow learner; but you notice when I learn something, I have it down pretty good."

“I worry that business leaders are more interested in material gain than they are in having the patience to build up a strong organisation, and a strong organisation starts with caring for their people.”

“The most important thing in the world is family and love.”

“Love is the most important thing in the world. Hate, we should remove from the dictionary.”

“Passion is momentary; love is enduring.”

“There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.”

“I don't believe in praying to win.”

“Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.”