John Wooden Quotes

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.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.

The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.

Talent is God-given, be humble. Fame is man-given, be grateful. Conceit is self-given, be careful.

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

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

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

Make every day your masterpiece.

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best.

It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.

If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything.

Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.

The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.

Never mistake activity for achievement.

Happiness begins where selfishness ends.

Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.

Failing to give your best is to sacrifice the gift.

Good values attract good people.

Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.

Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.

Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you.

It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.

Don’t plan the plan if you can’t follow through to the finish.

Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.

Be quick, but don’t hurry.

Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.

Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.

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

If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.

I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.

The things that have been most valuable to me have been the things I didn’t know when I started.

Team spirit and team work build champions.

Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character.

Basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live.

Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.

Be prepared and be honest.

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

Ability is a poor man’s wealth.

Adaptability is being able to adjust to any situation at any given time; to numerous conditions.

Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.

Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have.

Make every detail perfect and limit the number of details to perfect.

It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.

The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.

If you’re true to yourself, success will be yours.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.