John Wooden

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

Do not get so concerned with making a living that you forget to make a life.

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.

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

Goals achieved with little effort are seldom worthwhile or lasting.

The goal in life is the same as in basketball: make the effort to do the best you are capable of doing--in marriage, at your job, in the community, for your country. Make the effort to contribute in whatever way you can. You may do it materially or with time, ideas, or work. Making the effort to contribute is what counts. The effort is what counts in everything.

Never confuse activity with accomplishment.

I'd be satisfied just coaching in high school. I turned down a number of colleges when I was teaching in South Bend, Indiana, before I went into the service. I honestly believe that if I hadn't enlisted in the service, I would never have left high school teaching. I'm sure I would have never left.

The greatest ally you have to get things working well and the players performing as a team is the bench. Don't be afraid to use it, either for the star player or anyone else.

Your reputation is what you're perceived to be, Your character is what you really are

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

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

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

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

Time lost is time lost. It’s gone forever. Some people tell themselves that they will work twice as hard tomorrow to make up for what they did not do today. People should always do their best. If they work twice as hard tomorrow, then they should have also worked twice as hard today. That would have been their best.

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.

Be more interested in character than reputation

How many of us have conflicts with someone else- and how many of us pray for that person? We have individuals with whom we are competitive, or whom we dislike or have a quarrel with; but very few of us have true enemies in the martial sense. And yet if Lincoln could pray fervently- and contemporary reports indicate he did- for the people who were opposing him, how much more can we do for someone we just find a little irritating?

Never try to be better than somebody else. But most importantly, never cease trying to be the best you can be.

Never lie; never cheat; never steal. Don't whine; don't complain; don't make excuses.

Failure is never fatal. But failure to change can and might be.