Winning Quotes And Sayings
For Sports, Business, And Life

The old saying "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" sounds like a nice, principled statement, but I think most of us find that it's not much consolation when we lose.

Winners are leaders and naturally attract a following. Winners are sought after because, by and large, people seek direction and leadership. And, of course, people are hoping that winning rubs off on them.

Below are select winning quotes and sayings from sports figures, coaches, athletes, business people, famous people, and people who generally know a lot more than I do about how to win.

These are quotes to spur you on, and help you hit that target, whether it's a soccer or baseball game, or a business meeting with a client.

Sports Related Winning Quotes

Winning quotes and sayings from and about sports, athletes, and sports figures.

"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
-Saying [1953], often attributed to UCLA football coach Henry "Red" Sanders

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."
-Vince Lombardi in a 1962 interview [per Barlett's 17th edition]

The above two quotes have some controversy associated with them as to exact origin, and exact wording and phrasing. Lombardi is on record as having used the first quote, usually attributed to Sanders, on a number of occasions. Consequently, that first quote is sometimes attributed to Lombardi.

Per Wikipedia according to James Michener's Sports in America 'Lombardi claimed to have been misquoted. What he intended to say was "Winning isn't everything. The will to win is the only thing."'

"It ain't over till it's over."
-Saying, Yogi Berra, Comment on National League pennant race [1973]

Yogi Berra quotes

"Just Win, Baby."
-Al Davis, Owner, Oakland Raiders

"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital."
-Joe Paterno

"Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears."
-Bobby Jones, Founder, Augusta National Golf Club

"I love the winning, I can take the losing, but most of all I love to play."
-Boris Becker

Want more? We have more Sports motivational quotes from, among others, famous coaches and athletes, like these Michael Jordan quotes.

Business And Success Related Winning Quotes

Quotes for how to win in business, sales, careers, and success.

"Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning."
-Denis Waitley

"The art of winning in business is in working hard - not taking things too seriously"
-Elbert Hubbard

"A conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla army wins if it does not lose."
-Henry Kissinger

"The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities... It is best to win without fighting."
-Sun-tzu, Art of War. Planning a Siege

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."
-Sun-tzu, Art of War. Strategic Assessments

"Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

And, of course, I must add, that modern day poet and evangelist of greatness, Mr. "Tiger Blood" and "Adonis DNA" himself, the drug that is Charlie Sheen... "duh, Winning!"

Photo credit: dart board by earl53

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