John Wooden

When you hurry you're more apt to make mistakes. But you have to be quick. If you're not quick you can't get things done.

I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs.

I think that in any group activity - whether it be business, sports, or family - there has to be leadership or it won't be successful.

You can do more good by being good than any other way.

Ability is a poor man's wealth.

I talked to the players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn't try to run their lives.

I'm no wizard, and I don't like being thought of in that light at all. I think of a wizard as being some sort of magician or something, doing something on the sly or something, and I don't want to be thought of in that way.

If there's anything you could point out where I was a little different, it was the fact that I never mentioned winning.

Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.

I seldom was ever off my seat on the bench during the game.

I'm glad I was a teacher.

In the end, it's about the teaching, and what I always loved about coaching was the practices. Not the games, not the tournaments, not the alumni stuff. But teaching the players during practice was what coaching was all about to me.

I've been blessed in so many ways.

I met Tiger Woods when he was younger. He's amazing - obviously technically, but his mental approach, too. He's really something.

I'd be satisfied just coaching in high school. I turned down a number of colleges when I was teaching in South Bend, Indiana, before I went into the service. I honestly believe that if I hadn't enlisted in the service, I would never have left high school teaching. I'm sure I would have never left.

I found golf was too time consuming, but I did enjoy it.

Well, your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.

I don't believe in fate.

No one can really honestly be the very best, no one.

We can have no progress without change, whether it be basketball or anything else.