John Wooden’s words have always had a special place in my heart. His wisdom, clarity, and unwavering commitment to character and values have never failed to inspire me.
Whenever I read his quotes, I feel like he’s speaking directly to me, reminding me of what’s truly important in life. Whether you facing a difficult challenge, feeling lost, or just need a pick-me-up, John Wooden’s quotes are always there to offer comfort, encouragement, and a new perspective.
Read More: 6 Best Books For Athletes That Will Challenge Your Willpower
In this article, I want to share some of my favorite quotes from this incredible man and reflect on the lessons they’ve taught me about life, leadership, and success.
John Wooden Quotes On Success
Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.
Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.
If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.
Although there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.
Well, your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.
You are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes.
If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.
You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
Tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember a story.
You can do more good by being good than in any other way.
Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating…too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living that they forget to make a life.
All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.
Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s in your power.
Never try to be better than someone else. Learn from others, and try to be the best you can be. Success is the by-product of that preparation.
Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time.
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.
Succeeding is performing at your best when your best is required.
Happiness begins where selfishness ends.
It is the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
Mistakes come from doing, but so does success.
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.
It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures often make the biggest difference.
Earn the right to be proud and confident.
Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.
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.
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
It is the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it.
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.
I like to spend time in the past, with the things that have been important to me.
It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn’t try to run their lives.
Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s in your power.
If there’s anything you could point out where I was a little different, it was the fact that I never mentioned winning.
I don’t think I was a fine game coach. I’m trying to be honest. I think I was a good practice coach.
I think permitting the game to become too physical takes away a little bit of its beauty.
Love is the most important thing in the world. Hate, we should remove it from the dictionary.
I’m not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I’m going to say I’m opposed to war. But I’m also opposed to protests that deny other people their rights.
John Wooden Quotes on Leadership
I worry that business leaders are more interested in material gain than they are in having the patience to build up a strong organization, and a strong organization starts with caring for its people.
I think that in any group activity – whether it be business, sports, or family – there has to be leadership or it won’t be successful.
It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.
Just do the best you can. No one can do more than that.
If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.
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.
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
When you hurry you’re more apt to make mistakes. But you have to be quick. If you’re not quick you can’t get things done.
Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you.
The most important thing in the world is family and love.
We can have no progress without change, whether it be basketball or anything else.
If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.
The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.
If a player’s not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He’ll come around.
Teaching players during practices was what coaching was all about to me.
Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.
If I were a young coach today, I would be extremely careful in selecting assistants.
Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you.
You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.
Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.
Well, if you’re true to yourself you’re going to be true to everyone else.
I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.
Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better.
It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
If a player’s not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He’ll come around.
Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
If I were a young coach today, I would be extremely careful in selecting assistants.
Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.
I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn’t try to run their lives.
All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.
Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating… too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living that they forget to make a life.
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.
I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don’t criticize a teammate. Never be late.
Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.
Friendship is two-sided. It isn’t a friend just because someone’s doing something nice for you. That’s a nice person. There’s friendship when you do for each other. It’s like marriage – it’s two-sided.
I think permitting the game to become too physical takes away a little bit of its beauty.
Short John Wooden Quotes
Young people need models, not critics.
I don’t believe in praying to win.
Today is the only day. Yesterday is gone.
I don’t believe in praying to win.
Ability is a poor man’s wealth.
If I am through learning, I am through.
Discipline yourself, and others won’t need to.
Never lie, never cheat, and never steal.
No one can really honestly be the very best, no one.
Nothing will work unless you do.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Nothing will work unless you do.
Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.
Young people need models, not critics.
Be quick, but don’t hurry.
Who is John Wooden:
John Wooden was an American basketball player as well as a coach. He is recognized as one of the best coaches in sports history. Wooden coached the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team for 27 seasons, From 1948 until 1975, guiding them to 10 NCAA national titles, including seven in a row from 1967 to 1973.
Wooden was born in Hall, Indiana in 1910 and grew up in a farm family. In the 1930s, Wooden was a three-time All-American at Purdue University. He played briefly with the Indianapolis Kautskys of the National Basketball League (NBL) after college before beginning his coaching career.
Wooden was known for his focus on discipline, hard effort, and strong moral character, in addition to his success on the court. He developed the “Pyramid of Success,” a collection of principles he thought were required for success in both basketball and life. These values were hard work, passion, self-control, and faith. Wooden was also respected for his humility and ability to connect with his players. Many of the game’s finest players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (previously Lew Alcindor) and Bill Walton, admired and appreciated him.
After retiring from coaching in 1975, Wooden remained involved in basketball, acting as a commentator and mentor to future coaches, as well as delivering speeches and publishing books about his coaching philosophy. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama in 2010. He passed away in 2010 on 4 June at the age of 99.
