John Quotes

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

There is great joy in doing something for somebody else with no thought in receiving anything in return.

The choice you make, makes you.

Make greatness attainable by all.

The uphill climb is slow,but the downhill road is fast.

There is no great fun, satisfaction, or joy derived from doing something that's easy.

Happiness begins when selfishness ends.

Don't let the things you can't do get in the way of the things you can.

I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs.

I think that in any group activity - whether it be business, sports, or family - there has to be leadership or it wont be successful.

You never fail if you know in your heart that you did the best of which you are capable.

We will begin by learning how to tie our shoes.

Make no mistake, I always want to win, but I never fight with an opponent. My fight is within me it is the struggle to be the best I can be at whatever I do.

Cervantes said the journey's better than the end. Practices, to me, were the journey.

If we, as coaches, aren't teachers, we are nothing

Wisdom subdues bigotry.

Never be disagreeable just because you disagree.

Work without joy is drudgery. Drudgery does not produce champions, nor does it produce great organizations.

Loyalty is a cohesive force that forges individuals into a team.

Never let your emotions overrule your head.

If pursuing material things becomes your only goal, you will fail in so many ways. Besides, in time all material things go away.

Don't permit fear of failure to prevent effort.

Be slow to correct and quick to commend.

You will never outperform your inner circle.

Winning breeds winning.

Never allow anyone else to define your success.

Don't beat yourself. That's the worst kind of defeat you'll ever suffer.

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

Rest when you need to, but never quit.

The life lessons taught by John Wooden have become legend. Here's a collection of some of the greatest 'Woodenisms.'

There are no big things, only a logical accumulation of little things done at a very high standard of performance.

He who truly seeks God has found Him.

Most people think of poise as calm, self-assured dignity; but I call it “just being you”.

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

Never be thrown off stride in how you behave or what you believe in because of outside events.

Confidence - Poise and confidence are not possible unless you have prepared correctly. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Poise and confidence are a natural result of proper preparation.

Details create success.

As a leader, you will receive a large amount of praise and criticism and you should not unduly affected by either.

When we aren't alert, we miss opportunities to improve ourselves. We should always watch for circumstances or situations that can help or harm us and be eager to learn from these encounters.

Effective leaders are, first and foremost, good teachers. We're in the education business.

Knowing makes all the difference... It's the difference between just trying to keep alive, and having something to live for

First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully.

What would be the use of a neuroscience that cannot tell us anything about love?

I always do things before I go on a case and when I leave a case. I even do that when I'm out on the road.

I'm Roman Catholic and I believe very strongly in the power of prayer.

Bullets on a presentation slide are too often like bullets in a gun - deadly for those on the receiving end.

I mean I have had a very combative relationship with critics because I'm very impatient with people that don't give my work the respect I feel it deserves.

I was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in 1917, May the 28th. So you can figure that out; that's a long ways off. Oh, I've been around a long time.

The measure of your success will be the measure of your generosity.

When our whole life is one faith, hope, love, prayer and silence, a consecrated life always bound up in the Eucharist, then the 'urge' towards God springs.