Quotes About Excellence

Leaders get out in front and stay there by raising the standards by which they judge themselves - and by which they are willing to be judged.

It's not about talent once you get to the NFL because everyone's got it. It's about being willing to go that extra mile to be the best and that's something that I've always done.

Southwest isn't a 'This is my job, that's your job' kind of company. Being successful is our job, and we're willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that.

In order to be one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL - which I am - it's doing things that other people aren't willing to do.

Competing in sports has taught me that if I'm not willing to give 120 percent, somebody else will.

I want to prove to myself and everybody else how good I can be, and I'm willing to work as hard as I need to to achieve that goal.

One of the great lessons I've learned in athletics is that you've got to discipline your life. No matter how good you may be, you've got to be willing to cut out of your life those things that keep you from going to the top.

I have been surrounded by some of the smartest, brightest, most caring lawyers, by agents who are willing to risk their lives for others, by support staff that are willing to work as hard as they can.

I never worked hard until I got to the Howard Law School and met Charlie Houston... I saw this man's dedication, his vision, his willingness to sacrifice, and I told myself, 'You either shape up or ship out.' When you are being challenged by a great human being, you know that you can't ship out.

I happen to think Ruth Wilson is jaw-droppingly brilliant.

Atlantic's Jerry Wexler believes first-rate records are made by first-rate voices. He certainly has worked with enough of them: Clyde McPhatter, Joe Turner, La Vern Baker, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin.

My top three were Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain and Bo Jackson.

The only thing 'championship' about Wimbledon is its prestige.

Wimbledon is a very special tournament, and for me, it's one of the best events.

For me, and most of the other players, too, if you had to pick one of the four Grand Slams, you would pick Wimbledon. It's got tradition, it's got atmosphere, and it's got mystique.

Wimbledon just is the epitome of tennis.

Cricket had John Arlott, Wimbledon had Dan Maskell, we had Ted Lowe. He was great.

Personally, what goes beyond sport, you have to put to one side. You need the best to win trophies.

When you are not practicing, remember somewhere someone is practicing, and when you meet him, he will win.

God creates us to compete. He creates us to win. It matters. But you've got no chance if you don't do your best.

What I love is to win. What I love is being number one.

There are just two things you can do to win a Nobel prize - have a good idea and pursue it effectively.

There's no medals for trying. This isn't like eighth grade where everybody gets a trophy. We are in a professional sport, and it is competitive to win. That's what we do.

When you are fitted in a racing car and you race to win, second or third place is not enough.