Quotes from John Wooden

There is nothing stronger than gentleness

Personal greatness is not determined by the size of the job, but by the size of the effort one puts into the job. This applies to everyone on the team.

Results matter. They matter a great deal. But if this is an organization's singular purpose, then the people who sign on are often doing it for the wrong reasons.

A person who values winning above anything will do anything to win. And such people are threats to their organizations.

Sports don't build character; they reveal it.

how I conveyed information was often as important as the information itself.

A leader in sports, business, or any other field of endeavor should possess and provide the same qualities inherent in a good parent: character, consistency, dependability, accountability, knowledge, good judgment, selflessness, respect, courage, discipline, fairness, and structure.

And that, in my opinion, is the first goal of leadership—namely, getting the very best out of the people in your organization, whether they have talent to spare or are spare on talent.

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail . . . Never mistake activity for achievement . .

Don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal; never whine, never complain, never make excuses.

There is no education like adversity." However, to gain this education you must be tough enough to overcome adversity rather than allowing adversity to overcome you.

There is also the professional mentor, a person whose success in his or her career can be a source of practical wisdom and inspiration. This success might be mea sured in material gain or far-reaching influence, or in lives touched and relationships fostered. These mentors can offer a model for good business, ethical practices, and effective work habits, and they often provide the motivation we need to seize whatever opportunities come our way.

Alertness, the ability to be constantly observing, absorbing, and learning from what's going on around you, is a critical component for the individual in charge, the leader who strives for continuous improvement. You must constantly be awake, alive, and alert in evaluating yourself as well as the strengths and weaknesses of your organization and your competitors.

Drawing up plans such as these diagrams is the easy part. I did it thousands of times. Creating a successful organization with people who execute the plans at a level of Competitive Greatness—now, that's the challenge of leadership.

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty (Proverbs 21:5).

Even at 94, I want to be the best I can be, and hard work is the only way to make this happen.

Long-Term Success Requires Short-Term Focus.

Each day my mother demonstrated great patience and the ability and eagerness to work very hard without complaint

I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.

Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating. Youngsters need good models more than they need critics

Too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living they forget to make a life.

James Russell Lowell wrote: It's not what we give but what we share, For the gift without the giver is bare. Who gives of himself of his alms feeds three, Himself, his hungering neighbor, and me.

If you don't have the time to do it right, how can you have the time to do it over?

You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one.