Michael Jordan

If I have an agenda or a goal, no one is going to deter me from what I want to do.

When I was playing before I retired, I never really understood the appreciation and the respect that people gave me. People had treated me like a god or something, and that was very embarrassing.

I realize that I'm black, but I like to be viewed as a person, and this is everybody's wish.

There is no 'i' in team but there is in win.

Every time I feel tired while I am exercising and training, I close my eyes to see that picture, to see that list with my name. This usually motivates me to work again.

Earn your leadership every day.

Limits, like fear, is often an illusion.

Winning isn't always championships.

My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind.

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.

Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.

The game of basketball has been everything to me. My place of refuge, place I've always gone where I needed comfort and peace. It's been the site of intense pain and the most intense feelings of joy and satisfaction. It's a relationship that has evolved over time, given me the greatest respect and love for the game.

Sometimes you need to get hit in the head to realize that you're in a fight.

The game is my wife. It demands loyalty and responsibility, and it gives me back fulfillment and peace.

Even when I'm old and grey, I won't be able to play it, but I'll still love the game.

The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing.

The game has its ups and downs, but you can never lose focus of your individual goals and you can't let yourself be beat because of lack of effort.

If I had been playing for money I would have complained a long time ago that I was underpaid.

There was never any fear for me, no fear of failure. If I miss a shot, so what?

I know fear is an obstacle for some people, but it is an illusion to me . . . Failure always made me try harder next time.

You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.