John Wooden Quotes

From philosophical to inspirational, these John Wooden quotes have an uncanny wisdom that few other sports figures can match. Wooden, one of the most successful college basketball coaches of all time, let UCLA's legendary basketball team from 1948 to 1975. The “Wizard of Westwood,” as he was called, led his team to ten National Championship titles in twelve years, including four perfect seasons. Clearly, the coach knew quite a bit about the game of basketball. And, as it turns out, the following John Wooden quotes reveal that he knew quite a bit about life in general, too.

1. “Ability is a poor man's wealth.” Having coached hundreds of players from humble beginnings who went on to lead very successful lives, it's pretty apparent that Wooden was speaking from experience in this quote. It shows that Wooden didn't necessarily care about money, but that it would follow practiced talents almost inherently.

2. “Do not mistake activity for achievement.” It may sound a little harsh, but this John Wooden quote hits the nail on the head. Some busy themselves as much as possible without setting and reaching any particular goals. Essentially, it's running around in circles. And though you may be working hard, working hard at nothing in particular will not lead to success.

3. “Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life.” This quote again brings up Wooden's common theme of prioritization. The man was the most successful NCAA basketball coach of all time, but it's clear that he still put his family and personal relationships first. That's truly something to aspire to.

4. “The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.” Wooden coached some true superstars in his day, including the like of Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. But he never lost sight of the teamwork ideal he worked so hard to instill. While pure talent may translate to success on the court, it is those around you that truly make you great. It applies not only to basketball, but to living in general.

5. “Young people need models, not critics.” This John Wooden quote, written in the last decade of his long life, reveals something substantial about his character. That is, he was a teacher through and through. While many senior members of society might find it easy to castigate younger generations for society's problems at large, Wooden didn't see it that way. Always the teacher, he believed that there was always room and potential for improvement, no matter how dire or frustrating the circumstances.