These motivational greatness quotes will change how you see the world and will really get you thinking in a way you may not have thought about before.
What are the benefits of reading some powerful greatness quotes? As we go through each day, there are many ups and downs. We all need a little wisdom to remember what really matters and possibly change our perspectives.
Short greatness quotes have made an insightful positive impact in my life and I’m sure they will make a difference in yours as well. These quotes to inspire greatness will open up your mind to see situations in your life with more clarity and understanding.
Best Greatness Quotes
Fear is my ultimate guide. David Goggins
Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. Satchel Paige
Every champion was once a contender. Sylvester Stalone
Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great. John D. Rockefeller
This is the real secret of life – to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. Alan Watts
You miss percent of the shots you don’t take. Wayne Gretzky
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Tim Notke
I used my pain to push me to greatness. Eric Thomas
I tell the kids, somebody’s gotta win, somebody’s gotta lose. Just don’t fight about it. Just try to get better. Yogi Berra
Every great work, every great accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often comes apparent and temporary failure and discouragement just before the big achievement. Florence Scovel Shinn
You can’t win unless you learn how to lose. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Losing teaches you how to win, winning teaches you how not to lose. Matshona Dhliwayo
You might not be able to outthink, out market or outspend your competition, but you can outwork them. Lou Holtz
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds. Bob Marley
Good advice I always hated but looking back it made me greater. Nicki Minaj
Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pele. I have a great responsibility to show them not just how to be like a soccer player, but how to be like a man. Pele
Daily Success Checklist
That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well. Abraham Lincoln
Kill them with success and bury them with a smile. Usain Bolt
A champion is someone who does not settle for that day’s practice, that day’s competition, that day’s performance. They are always striving to be better. They don’t live in the past. Briana Scurry
Our life is what our thoughts make it. Marcus Aurelius
Don’t tell me how rocky the sea is, just bring the ship in. Lou Holtz
Happiness depends upon ourselves. Aristotle
Losing feels worse than winning feels good. Vin Scully
The difference between a thought and a decision is the immediate action you take. Ed Mylett
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. T.S. Eliot
The greatest wealth is the richness of the soul. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything. Colin Kaepernick
I think sometimes in life the biggest challenges end up being the best things that happen in your life. Tom Brady
You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself. Larry Brown
The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done. Arnold Palmer
The truth is that all of us can attain the greatest success and happiness possible in this life whenever we use our native capacities to its greatest extent. Smiley Blanton
Never underestimate the heart of a champion! Doc Rivers
It never gets easier. You just get better. Jordan Hoechlin
Some may have more talent than you, but there is no excuse for anyone working harder than you do. John Tavares
Anyone who stops is old, whether at or . Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. Henry Ford
I slept and dreamt life is beauty, I woke and found life is duty. Confucius
What keeps me going is not winning, but the quest for reaching potential in myself as a coach and my kids as divers. It’s the pursuit of excellence. Ron O’Brien
It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up. Muhammad Ali
Words are powerful, and there’s a selection of beautiful time quotes to discover for a bit of wisdom, a boost of confidence or simple entertainment.
Famous Greatness Quotes
Great leaders can see the greatness in others when they can’t see it themselves and lead them to their highest potential they don’t even know. Roy T. Bennett
You can overcome anything, if and only if you love something enough. Lionel Messi
Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it. Ted Williams
Embracing chaos might be the journey to take to finding peace. Rachel Hollis
You’re never a loser until you quit trying. Mike Ditka
Limits like fears are often just an illusion. Michael Jordan
Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. Vince Lombardi
Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes but they don’t quit. Conrad Hilton
The greater the obstacle, the more glory in achieving it. Moliere
If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat. Herschel Walker
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I’ve had to learn to fight all my life – got to learn to keep smiling. If you smile things will work out. Serena Williams
Action is the foundational key to all success. Pablo Picasso
If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way. Martin Luther King Jr.
If you don’t fall, how are you going to know what getting up feels like? Stephen Curry
Success at anything will always come down to this: focus and effort, and we control both. Dwayne Johnson
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward. Vernon Law
Your income can only grow to the extent that you do. T. Harv Eker
You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there. Yogi Berra
It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort. Jillian Michaels
Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. W. Clement Stone
I mean, it’s not important what kind of pants you were; it’s how you wear them. Ronnie Lott
The road that is rough is the one that leads to the greatest height. Seneca
The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before. Steve Young
Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom. George Washington Carver
Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come. Dwayne Johnson
Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is. Vince Lombardi
When you have had a taste of excellence, you cannot go back to mediocrity. Maximillian Degenerez
Great people are created by great mistakes that are learned from, not from great successes that are gloated upon. Elmer Clark
Just be patient. Let the game come to you. Don’t rush. Be quick, but don’t hurry. Earl Monroe
For to be free is not merely to cast of one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. Bob Marley
If something is important enough you should try, even if the probable outcome is a failure. Elon Musk
You don’t play against opponents, you play against the game of basketball. Bobby Knight
Success is something you attract by the person you become. John Earl Shoaff
So many people along the way, whatever it is you aspire to do, will tell you it can’t be done. But all it takes is imagination. You dream. You plan. You reach. Michael Phelps
There is no getting around the fact that the moment you are at your very best is the moment you begin to become worse and worse. Others will come along who can run faster, jump higher, hit harder, and you will be forgotten. Your winning moment is dated to die. Charlie Higson
Get rich or die tryin. Cent
Great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great. Fernando Flores
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. Lance Armstrong
Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds. Larry Bird
Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. Brian Tracy
True greatness consists in being great in little things. Charles Simmons
Happiness is not something ready made, it comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama
Nothing is black-and-white, except for winning and losing, and maybe that’s why people gravitate to that so much. Steve Nash
Competitive sports are played mainly on a five-and-a-half inch court, the space between your ears. Bobby Jones
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Mother Teresa
The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it. Wayne Gretzky
If you must doubt something, doubt your limits. Bob Proctor
The greatest good we can do for others is not to share our riches with them but to reveal theirs to them. Zig Ziglar
I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. Helen Keller
Winning solves everything. Tiger Woods
You can motivate by fear, and you can motivate by reward. But both those methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation. Homer Rice
Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition, he or she has overcome to reach his goals. Dorothy Height
If you’re afraid to fail then you’re probably going to fail. Kobe Bryant
It is better to be alone than in bad company. George Washinton
Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan
The questions you ask yourself will determine the course of your life. Tom Bilyeu
I am no genius; I just worked hard like my other teammates, and I believe all my teammates can win the title as they work hard, too. Lin Dan
It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters. Paul Bryant
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. Henry David Thoreau
In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened. Tommy Lasorda
Never let the fear of striking out get in your way. Babe Ruth
Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up. Rocky Balboa
No matter how much you’ve won, no matter how many games, no matter how many championships, no matter how many Super Bowls, you’re not winning now, so you stink. Bill Parcells
A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be. Wayne Gretzky
Allow these thankful quotes for life to give you an extra inspiration in your step whenever you may need it.
Powerful Greatness Quotes
Failure holds the seeds for greatness — so long as you water those seeds with introspection, they can be the root of your success. Daniel Lubetzky
People are capable, at any time in their lives of doing what they dream of. Paulo Coelho
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe. Anatole France
Winning is a habit leadership is calmly maintaining that habit against all odds. Amit Ray
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place. Lao Tzu
You are the handicap you must face. You are the one who must choose your place. James Lane Allen
Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next. George Steinbrenner
The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions. Leonardo da Vinci
Pain is only temporary but victory is forever. Jeremy H
No one is going to come to your house and make your dreams come true. Grant Cardone
The great accomplishments of man have resulted from the transmission of ideas, into enthusiasm, into actions. Thomas J. Watson
Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. Drake
I m an artist at living – my work of art is my life. D.T. Suzuki
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Nelson Mandela
Commit yourself to a dream. Nobody who tries to do something great, but fails, is a total failure. Why? Because he can always be assured that he succeeded in life’s most important battle; he defeated the battle of not trying. Robert H. Schuller
Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else. Vince Lombardo
“God has planted greatness in you. Let today be the beginning of a great adventure as you step into the gifts he’s given you. Joyce Meyer
Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion. Michael Jordan
To uncover your true potential you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them. Picabo Street
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Sun Tzu
Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. Dan Gable
I’ve never lost a game. I just ran out of time. Michael Jordan
Believe you can and you’re halfway there. Theodore Roosevelt
For me, winning isn’t something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream. Emmitt Smith
There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either IN or you’re OUT. There is no such thing as life in-between. Pat Riley
Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Napoleon Hill
Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength. Phil Jackson
Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown. Ross Perot
You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great. Les Brown
If you love what you do and are willing to do what it takes, it’s within your reach. Steve Wozniak
If you think it’s hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball. Jack Lemmon
There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet. William F. Halsey
Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Vince Lombardi
In the end, the game comes down to one thing: man against man. May the best man win. Sam Huff
It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe. Muhammad Ali
“Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. Martin Luther King Jr.
Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. Jim Valvano
Lost time is never found again. Benjamin Franklin
You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain. Miyamoto Musashi
Only do what your heart tells you. Princess Diana
If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration. Nikola Tesla
The only thing standing between me and greatness, is me. Woody Allen
Stop selling. Start helping. Zig Ziglar
No one ever achieved greatness by playing it safe. Harry Gray
Soccer forces life to move on. There’s always a new match. A new season. There’s always a dream that everything can get better. It’s a game of wonders. Fredrik Backman
Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness — great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy. Jim Rohn
I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not. Kurt Cobain
Show me a gracious loser and I’ll show you a failure. Knute Rockne
It’s important that your convictions are stronger than your doubts. Novak Djokovic
I know what I can do, so I never doubt myself. Usain Bolt
There are certain basic qualities and characteristics you’ve got to have. Number one: you’ve got to have a will to win. Bob Richards
You’ll score a lot of goals in your career but not one of them will happen without the help of a teammate. Abby Wambach
I think sports gave me the first place where this awkward girl could feel comfortable in my own skin. I think that’s true for a lot of women—sports gives you a part of your life where you can work at something and you look in the mirror and you like that person. Teri McKeever
Nothing is given. Everything is earned. Lebron James
Many a man has finally succeeded only because he has failed after repeated efforts. If he had never met defeat, he would never have known any great victory. Orison Swett Marden
Words that do not match deeds are unimportant. Che Guevara
If you aren’t going all the way, why go at all? Joe Namath
Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability. John Wooden
Most talented players don’t always succeed. Some don’t even make the team. It’s more what’s inside. Brett Favre
Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period. Lou Holtz
Believe me, the reward is not so great without the struggle. Wilma Rudolph
These uplifting hard hitting quotes will inspire positivity and good, happy feelings.
Motivational Greatness Quotes
We become what we think about. Earl Nightingale
To me the beauty of teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless. Coach Mike Krzyzewski
Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision. Muhammad Ali
In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves…self-discipline with all of them came first. Harry S. Truman
To succeed…You need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you. Tony Dorsett
The best way of learning about anything is by doing. Richard Branson
Everybody’s got plans… until they get hit. Mike Tyson
We should always believe we are the best. Cristiano Ronaldo
The first step toward greatness is, to be honest. Anonymous
Whoever is happy will make others happy. Anne Frank
Great minds have purposes, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them. Washington Irving
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ Muhammad Ali
No man ever became great without many and great mistakes. William E. Gladstone
The best motivation always comes from within. Michael Johnson
Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. William A. Ward
I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion. Mia Hamm
Most people fail in life because they major in minor things. Tony Robbins
Greatness comes from fear. Fear can either shut us down and we go home, or we fight through it. Lionel Richie
In sports, players need to be reminded of their competition to become motivated to practice. The same can be applied in business. Gavin McGinnis
The key is to be honest, be honest, but don’t play yourself. DJ Khaled
Playing it safe and taking no risks is a shortcut to poverty. Jordan Belfort
Those who walk with God always reach their destination. Henry Ford
When you’re riding, only the race in which you’re riding is important. Bill Shoemaker
The time is always right to do what is right. Martin Luther King Jr.
Goals prepare Olympic athletes physically and mentally. Did you know that goals are used by sports psychologists in order to help athletes improve their performance? Paul Bailey
Finding good players is easy. Getting them to play as a team is another story. Casey Stengel
We were scared, but our fear was not as strong as our courage. Malala Yousafzai
I don’t have to wait for nobody, I move when I wanna move. Floyd Mayweather
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination. Tommy Lasorda
My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging. Hank Aaron
We must choose greatness, greatness doesn’t choose us. FreshExchange
Life is gonna throw you curve balls and it’s how you deal with them and your attitude and your work ethic. Kerri Strug
Nothing in life that’s worth anything is easy. Barack Obama
Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement. Matt Biondi
A man who wins is a man who thinks he can. Roger Federer
At one point in your life you either have the thing you want or the reasons why you don’t. Andy Roddick
Taking the time to read inspiring don’t look back quotes can help keep the flame of positivity burning bright within your life.
Uplifting Greatness Quotes
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. John F. Kennedy
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. Robert Francis Kennedy
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Steve Jobs
This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure. Winston Churchill
The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are still getting beat no matter what you do. When you have the killer instinct to fight through that, it is very special. Eddie Reese
We old athletes carry the disfigurements and markings of contests remembered only by us and no one else. Nothing is more lost than a forgotten game. Pat Conroy
A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past. Fidel Castro
The secret of winning football games is working more as a team, less as individuals. I play not my best, but my best . Knute Rockne
The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing. Jackie Joyner Kersee
The greatest mistake you can make in your life is to be continually fearing that you will make one. Elbert Hubbard
Keep in mind that you’ll have true happiness, true fulfillment, not living to get but living to give. Joel Osteen
Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain. Mark Twain
Difficulties in life are intended to make us better, not bitter. Dan Reeves
There is nothing impossible to him who will try. Alexander The Great
Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure. Tommy Lasorda
It is better to create than to learn! Creating is the essence of life. Julius Caesar
I would have thought that the knowledge that you are going to be leapt upon by half-a-dozen congratulatory, but sweaty team-mates would be inducement not to score a goal. Arthur Marshall
If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it. Ronnie Lott
Some people say I have attitude – maybe I do…but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there. Venus Williams
I am a big believer in the value of traveling while you are young. The experiences you have in other countries can inspire greatness. Blake Mycoskie
The worst thing I can be is the same as everybody else. I hate that. Arnold Schwarzenegger
What makes something special is not just what you have to gain, but what you feel there is to lose. Andre Agassi
Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing. Muhammad Ali
Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. Les Brown
Incredible things can be done simply if we are committed to making them happen. Sadhguru
A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning. Pat Riley
The greatest thing about a man is his ability to transcend himself, his environment, and to be what he dreams of being. Tully C. Knoles
Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. Albert Einstein
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. George Bernard Shaw
Bodybuilding is much like any other sport. To be successful, you must dedicate yourself % to your training, diet and mental approach. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson
We can do no great things — only small things with great love. Mother Teresa
I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it. Sandy Koufax
I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. Rabindranath Tagore
The first and best victory is to conquer self. Plato
When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less. Paul Brown
It ain’t over till it’s over. Yogi Berra
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. John Wooden
Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. John Wooden
The cheat sheet helps you design your day-to-day life for high performance and success with a -step formula.
The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
Winning isn’t everything, but it beats anything that comes in second. Paul Bryant
Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever. Billie Jean King
Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy. Wayne Gretzky
I’ve always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win. Arnold Palmer
It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up. Vince Lombardi
An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head. Emil Zatopek
I wouldn’t let the boys down, no way. If my arm came off I’d still play. Jack Bird
There will never be ‘the right time’ in your life to do a great thing. You must create that time and greatness will follow. John A. Passaro
No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined. Henry Emerson Forsdick
Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day. Jim Rohn
There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do. Derek Jeter
Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever. Lance Armstrong
Any crusade requires optimism and the ambition to aim high. Paul Allen
You have the power to achieve greatness and create anything you want in life – but you must take action. Jack Canfield
At a young age winning is not the most important thing… the important thing is to develop creative and skilled players with good confidence. Arsene Wenger
Work hard. Have fun. Make it happen. Raphael Nadal
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou
“There is a great man who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great. Gilbert Keith Chesterton
I’m dreaming for a living. Stephen Spielberg
“Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service and character. William Arthur Ward
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. Walt Disney
You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life? Rumi
The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital. Joe Paterno
Surround yourself with people who challenge you, teach you, and push you to be your best self. Bill Gates
Life is short. Do big things. Robin Sharma
Show me a guy who’s afraid to look bad, and I’ll show you a guy you can beat every time. Lou Brock
Don’t fear failure – not failure, but low aim is the crime. In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail. Bruce Lee
From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life. Arthur Ashe
You can’t master your future if you’re still a slave to your past. Rihanna
Passion first and everything will fall into place. Holly Holm
If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win. Carl Lewis
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mahatma Gandhi
Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play. Mike Singletary
Winners never quit and quitters never win. Sports do not build character. They reveal it. Heywood Broun
If we are true to ourselves, we cannot be false to anyone. William Shakespeare
Many of life lessons and experience condense wisdom into positive comeback quotes that are meaningful and inspirational.