Quotes from Louis Zamperini

If you give everything and you lose, so what? It's not going to put you in your grave. I walked away knowing I could handle defeat gracefully, and I had more self-esteem from that than from winning the race.

I decided then that while I'd continue telling my story to whoever would listen. Rather than preach I'd just plant the seed, live an impeccable life so people could see the difference in me, and let God grant the increase. It was all in His hands now—as it had always been.

One day I knew the war would be over, but I wondered how long the remains of war would last in me and in them even after the bombs had stopped falling and the guns were silent. What I feared most was that my generation would teach the hatred and resentment I was learning at the hands of the Japanese to our own children and the cycle of disaffection and violence would never stop.

I had taken the Bird's daily beatings at Omori, and then at Naoetsu. I had to. I never complained. I just got knocked down, bled, got up, got knocked down, bled, got up. I expected it. I wouldn't let it get me down. Sometimes it took me two days to recover, but I always had a positive attitude. Steely, but positive. No way would he break me.

I wasn't reaching for glory at Naoetsu. I just wouldn't give the Bird the satisfaction of destroying my dignity. Don't let anyone take yours away, either.

A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of victory

The one who forgives never brings up the past to that person's face. When you forgive, it's like it never happened. True forgiveness is complete and total.

When you receive Jesus as your Savior," Dr. Graham continued, "you are regenerated by the spirit of God. Your life is transformed. You are a new person in Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus doesn't want part of your life, He wants all of your life. He wants you to repent of your sins and then completely and totally surrender your life to Him and follow Him.

I knew then that I would not turn back. I'd struggled to come this far, and I would commit myself to whatever happened next.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," so I took Him at His word, begged for His pardon, and asked Jesus to come into my life.

All I knew was that hate was as deadly as any poison and did no one any good. You had to control and eliminate it, if you could.

Never give up, no matter what.

For the first time in my life the beautiful story made clear sense. I began to cry, overwhelmed by the emotion. For many years the Bible had been a mystery to me, but now it was an open book. This was the clincher: how could I suddenly understand the Bible when I never could before? How often had I picked it up and put it down because I couldn't make heads or tails of what it was all about? But with the Holy Spirit as my interpreter, the meanings were obvious.

businesses were closed on Sundays,

but in the end all things work together for good.

Everyone in America is a European—or the descendant of a European. We become Americans when we leave behind us all the ancient prejudices and manners of the Old World and when we accept new ones from the way of life in the New World. Here, individuals of all nations are melted into one race of man.

My self-esteem was affected by my anxiety over what others thought of me. That weakened my natural confidence. And made me angry. Positive self-esteem must be preceded by self-respect. To get self-respect you have to do something good. Causing mischief wasn't good.

The difference between attention and recognition is self-esteem.