What counts in sports is not the victory, but the magnificence of the struggle.
Joe PaternoRead
I don't think it's fair to 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds to say 'Show us you're a winner right now!' Winning isn't everything. I'll never buy that thing that if a boy loses a football game, he's a loser in life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Winning isn't the only measure of success, especially for young individuals.
In this quote, Joe Paterno emphasizes the importance of perspective when evaluating success, particularly for teenagers. He argues against the harmful notion that a young person's worth is tied to their victories or failures in competitive activities, advocating instead for a more compassionate understanding of their development and self-worth.
Themes
WinningSuccessYouthPerspectiveSports
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech to parents at a school event.
More from Joe Paterno
All quotes →My thing was play as hard as you can, don't be stupid, pay attention to details, and have enough guts in the clutch that you're not afraid to make a play. Some things I thought were important for a young man to know.
Joe PaternoRead
They ask me what I'd like written about me when I'm gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach.
Joe PaternoRead
What is a coach? We are teachers. Educators. We have the same obligations as all teachers, except we probably have more influence over young people than anybody but their families. And, in a lot of cases, more than their families.
Joe PaternoRead
The name on the front of the jersey is what really matters, not the name on the back.
Joe PaternoRead
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