John Wooden Quotes

John Wooden retired seven years before I was born. I've observed the greatness of Bobby Cox and Phil Jackson as it unfolded, but not Mr. Wooden's. I can't speak as someone who watched him as I coached, because I didn't, and I can't speak as a UCLA fan, because I'm not. And yet, his quotes hold a place in my consciousness.

Quotes are dangerous things. By definition, they're reductive, hyper-simplistic, and usually pithy. That being said, John Wooden's brief segments of observations -- and he produced many of them -- are valuable.

Without further comment, I present my ten favorite quotes from a man who spent 29 years of his life guiding young people, and another 35 sharing what he learned.

10. The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.

9. If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.

8. Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.

7. Never mistake activity for achievement.

6. Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.

5. Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.

4. Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.

3. Ability is a poor man's wealth.

2. Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

1. You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

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John Wooden

Former UCLA men's basketball coach John Wooden, 99, was being treated Thursday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
UCLA Sports Information Director Marc Dellins declined to comment on the report, "in accordance with the wishes of the family."
Wooden, nicknamed "The Wizard of Westwood," coached UCLA to an unprecedented 10 NCAA championships in his final 12 seasons, including a record seven in a row from 1967 to 1973.
The Bruins won 88 consecutive games from 1971 to 1974 and 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games from 1964 to 1974, both records.

But the record Wooden said he is the most proud of is his team's 19 conference championships.
Wooden was born Oct. 14, 1910, in Hall, Ind., moving with his family to a small farm in Centerton, Ind, in 1918 and then to Martinsville, Ind., when he was 14. He helped lead Martinsville High School to Indiana's state championship finals three consecutive years and the state championship in 1927.
Wooden was a three-time All-American and helped lead the Boilermakers to two Big Ten championships and the 1932 national championship.
Wooden began his coaching career in 1932 at Dayton (Ky.) High School, spending two years there, coaching a variety of sports. He spent the next nine years at South Bend (Ind.) Central High School, coaching basketball, baseball and tennis and teaching English.
Wooden served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1943-46. He resumed his coaching career at Indiana State Teacher's College, now Indiana State University, coaching basketball and baseball and serving as athletic director for two years before coming to UCLA in 1948.
Wooden's long list of honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, being named by ESPN as the greatest coach of the 20th century and having a post office and high school named for him in Reseda. He was the first person selected for the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and coach.
In addition to his championships and 620-147 record as UCLA's coach from 1948 to 1975, Wooden was acclaimed for the values he espoused. He had three rules for his players -- don't use profanity, be on time and never criticize a teammate.
"A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring with John Wooden," a book co-written by Wooden and Don Yaeger, was released on the former coach's 99th birthday.
"Coach Wooden didn't just inspire legendary basketball teams at UCLA," UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said in October. "By radiating integrity and by his dedication to hard work, he has had a profound influence on generations of students here. He is the best kind of leader there is."

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