John Wooden Trying Quotations

Just try to be the best you can be; never cease trying to be the best you can be. That's in your power.

I think you have to be what you are. Don't try to be somebody else. You have to be yourself at all times.

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 don't think I was a fine game coach. I'm trying to be honest. I think I was a good practice coach.

My bench never heard me mention winning. My whole emphasis was for each one of my players to try to learn to execute the fundamentals to the best of their ability. Not to try to be better than somebody else, but to learn from others, and never cease trying to be the best they could be; that's what I emphasized more than anything else.

The true leader isn't really looking for leadership. He's trying to set an example and be in the proper way to get the most productive results and don't realize it. When the followers get something done, if the leader has been what he should, they'll feel like they did it, not him. That's the way it should be.

Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after I have proved to the individual that I highly value him. If they know we care for them, our correction won’t be seen as judgmental. I also try to never make it personal.

I've never stopped trying to do what's right. I'm not doing it to earn favor with God. I'm doing it because it's the right thing to do.

Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly.

We are all equal in that we can all strive to become the best we are capable of becoming. We can always improve but we shouldn't compare ourselves to others. We get in trouble when we start trying to measure up to someone else.

You should never try to be better than someone else, you should always be learning from others. But you should never cease trying to be the best you could be because that's under your control and the other isn't.

You control the terms of the conflict. Make them play your game. Don't try to play theirs.

Every person under your supervision is different. They're all different. They're identical in most ways, but not in all ways. You have to study and analyze every individual under your supervision and try to work with them in a way that will be most productive.

Every day, try to help someone who can't reciprocate your kindness.

Never try to be better than someone else. Learn from others.

Never try to be better than somebody else. But most importantly, never cease trying to be the best you can be.

As long as you try your best, you are never a failure. That is, unless you blame others.

Never try to be better than someone else. Learn from others, and try to be the best you can be. Success is the by-product of that preparation.