Quotes from John Wooden

Drink deeply from good books.

Make Every Day Your Masterpiece!

Don't whine. Don't complain. Don't make excuses.

Some people today may think these are naive or kind of corny. But think a moment about what they mean and who you become if you abide by them. That isn't naive. You don't become corny.

Four things a man must learn to do If he would make his life more true: To think without confusion clearly, To love his fellow-man sincerely, To act from honest motives purely, To trust in God and Heaven securely.

school. I never tried to talk a student into coming to UCLA. I tried to show him what was there and what to expect, and I never told him he was going to play; I told him he would have the opportunity to play, and if he was good enough, then he'd be able to. Rosy forecasts during the "courtship" of a player can only lead to disappointment and distrust if anything fails to meet that student's expectations.

Now parents will say, "We're just trying to make ends meet," and they're telling the truth. But if you think too much about the pursuit of material things, you're going to hurt those youngsters you're working so hard to buy material things for.

You must know who you are and be true to who you are if you are going to be who you can and should become.

You cannot have a perfect day without helping others with no thought of getting something in return.

True happiness comes from the things that cannot be taken away from you. Making the full effort to do the right thing can never be taken away from you.

I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday

Some of those under your supervision will catch on quickly, others not. Understanding that patience is an integral part of good teaching and effective leadership allowed me to accept the varying speeds at which people learn and to accommodate, within reason, those differences. Patience became an asset for me rather than a liability. I came to understand that good things take time.