John Wooden Quotes

• When I am through learning, I am through.

  John Wooden

  3064

• I do not want players who do not have a keen desire to win and do not play hard and aggressively to accomplish that objective.

  John Wooden

  Basketball   Player  

  2255

• Failure is not the crime. Low aim is.

  John Wooden

  Source: bobmorris.biz

  2285

• We must be challenged to improve, and adversity is the challenger.

  John Wooden

  485

• The courageous struggle for a noble cause should be considered success itself.

  John Wooden

  2255

• When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don't look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That's the only way it happens - and when it happens, it lasts.

  John Wooden

  Change  

  4285

• One of the greatest motivating factors is the pat on the back, although with some individuals, you have to make the pat a little lower or a little harder.

  John Wooden

  1806

• Never confuse activity with accomplishment.

  John Wooden

  2866

• How you run the race - your planning, preparation, practice, and performance - counts for everything. Winning or losing is a by-product, and aftereffect, of that effort.

  John Wooden

  John Wooden (2011). “Wooden's Complete Guide to Leadership (EBOOK BUNDLE)”, p.8, McGraw-Hill Professional

  1895

• Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control. Good judgment and common sense are essential.

  John Wooden

  Practice  

  John Wooden, Jay Carty (2010). “Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success (Large Print 16pt)”, p.34, ReadHowYouWant.com

  5102

• Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability. Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

  John Wooden

  Character   Thinking  

  4700

• Discipline yourself - so others don't have to.

  John Wooden

  3348

• Strive to accomplish the very best you are capable of. Nothing less than your best effort will suffice.

  John Wooden

  John Wooden, Steve Jamison (2009). “Coach Wooden's Leadership Game Plan for Success: 12 Lessons for Extraordinary Performance and Personal Excellence”, p.8, McGraw Hill Professional

  1410

• What you do in practice is going to determine your level of success. I used to tell my players, 'You have to give 100 percent every day. Whatever you don't give, you can't make up for tomorrow. If you give only 75 percent today, you can't give 125 percent tomorrow to make up for it.'

  John Wooden

  Motivational   Player   Practice  

  4819

• I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn't try to run their lives.

  John Wooden

  Player  

  "Wooden Remembers Booster" by Neil Amdur, www.nytimes.com. February 4, 1982.

  2753

• The eight laws of learning are explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition.

  John Wooden

  2887

• My eyesight is not nearly as good. My hearing is probably going away. My memory is slipping too. But I'm still around.

  John Wooden

  4857

• If a player's not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He'll come around.

  John Wooden

  Player   Should  

  "John Wooden: What I've Learned" by Cal Fussman, www.esquire.com. February 2000.

  815

• The best competition I have is against myself to become better

  John Wooden

  Basketball   Nba  

  John Wooden, Jay Carty (2009). “Coach Wooden One-On-One”, p.65, Revell

  1347

• My philosophy of defense is to keep the pressure on an opponent until you get to his emotions

  John Wooden

  Basketball   Nba  

  1950

• Never allow anyone else to define your success.

  John Wooden

  John Wooden (2011). “Wooden's Complete Guide to Leadership (EBOOK BUNDLE)”, p.58, McGraw-Hill Professional

  2455

• Ten strong horses could not pull an empty baby carriage if they worked independently of each other.

  John Wooden

  223

• He who truly seeks God has found Him.

  John Wooden

  2345

• Remember, results aren't the criteria for success — it's the effort made for achievement that is most important.

  John Wooden

  John Wooden (2010). “Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success (Large Print 16pt)”, p.115, ReadHowYouWant.com

  4779

• You may be better than the rest, but you are not a success until you have made the effort to become the best you can be.

  John Wooden

  John Wooden, Jay Carty (2010). “Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success (Large Print 16pt)”, p.58, ReadHowYouWant.com

  4833

• A coach's primary function should be not to make better players, but to make better people

  John Wooden

  Player   People   Should  

  4426

• A gifted player, who is not a team player, will ultimately hurt the team.

  John Wooden

  Team   Player  

  2797

• Dwelling in the past prevents doing something in the present.

  John Wooden

  2270

• Doing the best you are capable of doing is victory in itself, and less than that is defeat.

  John Wooden

  Basketball  

  1452

• Remember this, the choices you make in life, make you.

  John Wooden

  Basketball   Coaching  

  937

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