John Wooden was an American basketball coach who is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport.
Wooden was known for his unique coaching style, which emphasized teamwork, discipline, and the development of strong character in his players.
Here are some of the characteristics of John Wooden’s quotes:
- Wisdom: John Wooden’s quotes are known for their timeless wisdom. They often reflect his deep understanding of human nature, and his ability to distill complex ideas into simple, memorable phrases.
- Clarity: Wooden’s quotes are often very clear and concise. He had a talent for expressing his ideas in a way that was easy to understand, even for people who were not familiar with basketball.
- Focus on character: Wooden’s coaching philosophy was centered around the idea that success on the basketball court was closely tied to personal character development. His quotes often reflect this focus on character, and the importance of developing good habits and values.
- Emphasis on teamwork: Wooden was a big believer in the power of teamwork. His quotes often emphasize the importance of working together, and the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
- Inspirational: Many of Wooden’s quotes are very inspirational. They encourage people to strive for excellence, to never give up, and to believe in themselves and their abilities.
Overall, John Wooden’s quotes are known for their wisdom, clarity, focus on character, emphasis on teamwork, and inspirational quality.
They continue to inspire and motivate people today, long after Wooden’s passing.
We have many in this article.
Let’s check them out.
John Wooden Quotes
Here are some John Wooden quotes:
- “Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”
- “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”
- “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
- “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”
- “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”
- “Happiness begins where selfishness ends.”
- “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.”
- “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 that you are capable of becoming.”
- “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”
- “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
- “Don’t mistake activity with achievement.”
- “Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”
- “The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.”
- “Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.”
- “The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”
- “The best competition I have is against myself to become better.”
- “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
- “Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.”
- “Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
- “You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”
- “I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.”
- “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.”
- “The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”
- “The true athlete should have character, not be a character.”
- “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
- “The only true satisfaction a player receives is the satisfaction that comes from himself.”
- “Be prepared and be honest.”
- “It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.”
- “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.”
- “The man who is afraid to risk failure seldom has to face success.”
- “The best way to improve the team is to improve yourself.”
- “Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.”
- “Never lie, never cheat, never steal.”
- “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
- “The worst thing about being a coach is that you lose players every year. The best thing about being a coach is that you get new players every year.”
- “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.”
- “It’s not what you have, but what you do with what you have.”
- “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
- “Make every day your masterpiece.”
- “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
- “Success is the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
- “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.”
- “The most important key to achieving great success is to decide upon your goal and launch, get started, take action, move.”
- “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”
- “Happiness begins where selfishness ends.”
- “If you want to be remembered, do something memorable.”
- “The true athlete should have character, not be a character.”
- “Success is the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
- “The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”
- “Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.”
- “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”
- “The worst thing you can do for those you love is the things they could and should do themselves.”
- “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”
- “Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”
- “Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
- “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
- “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
- “I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.”
- “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
- “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
- “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
- “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
- “Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”
- “It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.”
- “The best competition I have is against myself to become better.”
- The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example.
- “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.”
- “The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”
- “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.”
- “Never lie, never cheat, never steal.”
- “Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.”
- “Be prepared and be honest.”
- “It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.”
- “The worst thing about being a coach is that you lose players every year. The best thing about being a coach is that you get new players every year.”
- “If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind.”
- “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.”
- “I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere.”
- “What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.”
- “The most important thing in life is to love what you’re doing, because that’s the only way you’ll ever be really good at it.”
- “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
- “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
- “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”
- “The only way to improve is to have a good attitude and keep working hard.”
- “Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”
- “It’s not what you have, but what you give.”
- “You can’t have a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
These are just some of the many wise and inspirational quotes from John Wooden that have inspired and motivated countless people around the world.
Final Word – John Wooden Quotes
John Wooden was a legendary basketball coach and a remarkable individual who inspired countless people with his wisdom and insights.
His quotes are known for their clarity, focus on character, and emphasis on teamwork, and have continued to inspire and motivate people long after his passing.
Wooden’s coaching philosophy was not only centered around basketball but also on developing good habits, values, and character in his players.
His quotes encourage us to strive for excellence, to be humble, and to value the importance of hard work, discipline, and integrity.
The legacy of John Wooden continues to inspire generations to become their best selves and to lead a life of purpose and meaning.
