"Wooden" Quotes by John Wooden

Here are selected quotes from Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and Off the Court by John Wooden (with Steve Jamison).

- "As a coach he was able to adapt to changing circumstances without bending to every trend, without compromising what was at his core. His understanding always went beyond the moment; this thoughts and action guided by enduring principles no less valid today than seventy years ago in Martinsville, Indiana. Perhaps that is why, even now, he retains a compelling voice that never has to be raised to be heard." (xiv - Bob Costas)

- "There is a wonderful, almost mystical, law of nature that says three of the things we want most - happiness, freedom, and peace of mind - are always attained whenever we give them to others." (15)

- "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Character is what you really are. Reputation is what people say you are." (28)

- "Early on - I came to believe that you should learn as if you were going to live forever, and live as if you were going to die tomorrow." (30)

- "The young must remember that all good and worthwhile things take time (and that is exactly as it should be). Their elders must remember that although not all change is progress, all progress is the result of change (and to resist or fear change is often to get in the way of progress)." (43)

- "My coach at Purdue, Piggy Lambert, constantly reminded us, 'The team that makes the most mistakes will probably win.'
That may sound a bit odd, but there is a great deal of truth in it. The doer makes mistakes Coach Lambert taught me that mistakes come from doing, but so does success.
The individual who is mistake-free is also probably sitting around doing nothing. And that's a very big mistake." (73)

- "Success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." (170)

- "You must not be afraid to fail. Initiative is having the courage to make decisions and take action. Keep in mind that we are all going to fail at times. This you must know. None of us is perfect. But if you're afraid of failure, you will never do the things you're capable of doing." (185)

Related:
- John Wooden's 9 Promises That Can Bring Happiness
- John Wooden's Father's Seven Things To Do
- John Wooden's 8 Suggestions For Succeeding