Quotes from Gordie Howe

I don't want to retire, because you stay retired for an awfully long time.

People say I'm henpecked. Well, let them say it.

My philosophy is never start talking about 'if,' 'and,' 'but' or the past, because 90 percent of what follows will be negative.

It's not easy to retire. No one teaches you how. I found that out when I tried it the first time. I'm not a quitter.

If Colleen Howe had been a hockey player, she would have been a centremen. I can see her as a centreman because you can do what you want and go wherever you want to go.

That was Dad. Don't take any dirt from anybody.

I always tell kids, you have two eyes and one mouth. Keep two open and one closed. You never learn anything if you're the one talking.

All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity.

To me, hockey was always tremendous fun. That's what kept me going for so long. I simply love to play hockey.

I like to think that I'm a family man first and a professional athlete second.

I wish I had more opportunities to play for Canada when I was younger, but pros just never had the chance in those days. It was just set up that way.

All pro athletes are bilingual. They speak English and profanity.

Growing up, I probably raised a bit more hell than I should have.

There's always something in the game you wish you would have done different. That's why players improve, because they learn from what they did before. They might have been guessing before, but now they know.

The first time I met Wayne Gretzky... he never said anything back.

I might have some quibbles with the way the game is played today, but at its core, I know that hockey will always be hockey no matter what year the calendar reads.

I helped put in a rink in Cadillac, Michigan, when my wife was very healthy. She helped them put it in and the rink is going full-bore the last time I was there.

If I learned one thing by playing professional hockey for thirty-two years, it's that you have to love what you do. And that's not just true for sports.

I would say it is important to have a good education, as hockey is a career that does not last many years, and you need to be prepared for this.

I'm aware that not everyone approved of how I played, but I don't think any apologies are in order. Early in my career, I decided that it was worth it to do whatever was necessary to earn the extra split second it takes to make a pass or shoot the puck.

You should hold the top hand on the stick like you would hold a hammer when you're driving a nail. You have the most leverage, and you won't get your wrist broken.

It's been said that, while growing up, I ate meals with my skates on. It's true.

You find that you have peace of mind and can enjoy yourself, get more sleep, and rest when you know that it was a one hundred percent effort that you gave - win or lose.

Growing up during the Depression, we didn't have much, but we had each other, we had our friends, and that was pretty much all we needed. I was aware that some people had more, but those who did, shared.