“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” – John Wooden
“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” – John Wooden
“Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.” – John Wooden
We can have no progress without change, whether it be basketball or anything else.” – John Wooden
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” – John Wooden
You can do more good by being good than any other way. – John Wooden
All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low. – John Wooden
“Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.” – John Wooden
“Young people need models, not critics.” – John Wooden
“Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s in your power.” – John Wooden
“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you capable of becoming.” – John Wooden
“Make each day your masterpiece“ – John Wooden
Succeeding is performing at your best when your best is required. – John Wooden
Mistakes come from doing, but so does success. – John Wooden
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. – John Wooden
Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts. – John Wooden
“Nothing will work unless you do.” – John Wooden
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” – John Wooden
“Earn the right to be proud and confident.” – John Wooden
“It’s important to keep trying to do what you think is right no matter how hard it is or how often you fail. You never stop trying. I’m still trying.” – John Wooden
“It is the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” – John Wooden
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” – John Wooden
It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. – John Wooden
Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s in your power.– John Wooden
If you stay intent and your ability warrants it, you will eventually reach the top of the mountain.― John Wooden
Today is the only day. Yesterday is gone.― John Wooden
“The best competition I have is against myself to become better.” ― John Wooden
“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.” ― John Wooden
“Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.” ― John Wooden
More John Wooden quotes on life and leadership
The most important thing in the world is family and love. ― John Wooden
“The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” ― John Wooden
“Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you.” – John Wooden
“There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.” – John Wooden
“No one can really honestly be the very best, no one.” – John Wooden
“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.” – John Wooden
“Don’t mistake activity with achievement.” ― John Wooden
“Tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember a story.” – John Wooden
“It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.” ― John Wooden
“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” ― John Wooden
“Listen if you want to be heard” ― John Wooden
“Be quick, but don’t hurry.” ― John Wooden
“If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.” ― John Wooden
“The key ingredient to stardom is the team.” ― John Wooden
“Next to love, balance is the most important thing.” ― John Wooden
“Measure yourself by…what you have accomplished with your ability” ― John Wooden
“Coach Wooden didn’t treat everybody the same; he treated people the way they deserved to be treated.” ― John Wooden
“A strong leader accepts blame and gives the credit. A weak leader gives blame and accepts the credit.” ― John Wooden
“When opportunity knocks, it’s too late to prepare.” ― John Wooden
“Always try to be the very best that you can be. Learn from others, yes. But don’t just try to be better than they are.” ― John Wooden