When we think of a famous phrase or quote, we often use the words spoken by different scientists, writers, philosophers, religious people, politicians or historical figures. It is not so common to mention phrases and reflections from the world of sports.
And yet, there are a large number of athletes who have contributed with their words to inspiring their followers and youth in values such as effort, hard work, a positive attitude and perseverance. This is the case of Michael Jordan, considered the best basketball player of all time and an example. In this article you will find Michael Jordan quotes that can serve as inspiration
The best famous phrases and quotes from Michael Jordan
Below are a series of contributions and phrases from Michael Jordan on different topics or from which we can extrapolate their meaning to other facets of life.
1. I have always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come sooner or later
This phrase reflects the need to persist in the effort to fight for what we want.
2. Some people want something to happen, some dream about what will happen, some make it happen
Wishing and dreaming are things that must be done, but they will not stop being dreams if we do nothing to make them come true.
3. To learn to succeed you first have to learn to fail
To do something well it takes practice and having failed to learn how to get things done. Furthermore, this allows us to appreciate more the goals and achievements achieved.
4. I don’t do things half-believing. I know that by doing this I can only expect mediocre results.
We have to put all our effort into what we do and believe with all our strength in it.
5. Step by step. I can’t imagine any other way to achieve things.
Great goals require effort and are achieved little by little, with multiple intermediate steps.
6. Never say never. Because limits, like fear, are often just an illusion
The only limit that exists is the one we set for ourselves. We can always go further
7. Whoever says they play to the limit, it’s because they have it
If we set a limit for ourselves, we will not go beyond it. We have to know how to feed our own motivation.
8. You must expect things from yourself before you can do them.
Self-confidence is essential when it comes to enabling us to act and achieve our objectives.
9. There are good and bad ways of doing things. You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if the technique is wrong, you will only become an individual who is good at shooting poorly.
Perseverance is good, but if we persist in making mistakes we really cannot improve.
10. If you accept the expectations of others, especially the negative ones, then you will never change the outcome
Jordan tells us that we should not bow to what others expect of us.
11. I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But what I can’t accept is not trying
If we try to do something we can fail but if we don’t do we can never not do it.
12. If you come to the end of your life and are full of frustration because you feel like you didn’t do something, you become bitter. You feel bitter because you blame yourself for not achieving the things you could have done. I will not be a bitter old man
Living life to the fullest and doing what you want to do is essential to leading a happy life.
13. Always turn a negative situation into a positive one
You can learn from all things, and something good can be obtained from almost everything depending on the perspective we adopt.
14. I’m not sweating for three hours every day just to know what it feels like to sweat.
Jordan reflects in this phrase the pursuit of achieving objectives It drives us to act to pursue goals.
15. If you hit a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or go around it
Achieving our objectives is complex and requires facing complications and difficulties.
16. Everyone has talent, but skill requires hard work.
Being skilled at something requires great effort regardless of whether there is natural talent or not.
17. We all fly. Once you leave the ground, you fly. Some people fly more than others
Dreaming is what drives us.
18. Sometimes you need to be hit in the head to realize you’re in a fight.
Situations can involve us without us realizing it.
19. I never think about the consequences of missing a great shot… when you think about the consequences you are thinking about a negative result
It is better not to anticipate results, since one tends to think about possible defeats.
20. Don’t let success go to your head, and don’t let failure get to your heart
It is important that neither success nor failure make us lose our minds or sink. We have to believe in ourselves without feeling superior.
21. Sometimes things may not go your way, but the effort must be there every night
Regardless of the results and the circumstances, we must strive to achieve the best possible quality of ourselves.
22. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships
It is the use of strategy and joint work that allows for good development and management of things, obtaining the best possible results
23. I realized that if I was going to achieve anything in life I had to be aggressive. I had to look for it
We must not remain still and adopt passive or merely reflective attitudes. If we want something, we must act.
24. I know that fear is an obstacle for many people, but for me it is an illusion
Fear can paralyze us. But it is also a sensation that prepares us to move and act.
25. My father used to say that it’s never too late to do something you wanted to do. You don’t know what you can get until you try
It is never too late to achieve what we set out to do. We can always fight.
26. I have failed again and again in my life, that is why I have achieved success
Mistakes help you learn and achieve success.
27. Another day, another chance to prove everyone who doubts you wrong
We should not rely on the expectations of others towards us to act. Let that not limit us.
28. I play to win, during training or in a real game, and I will not let anything get in the way of me or my enthusiasm to win.
No matter the situation, we must not lower our level.
29. If goals are conceived and achieved as a team, individual races will stand out on their own.
Working as a team and being oriented towards it allows both the group and the individuals to stand out.
30. There was never any fear in me, I am not afraid of failure. If I miss a throw, what?
Nothing happens if we ever fail. It serves as learning and is an opportunity for improvement
31. Authenticity is about being true to who you are, even when everyone around you wants you to be someone else.
Being authentic means that you fight for what you believe in without bowing to other people’s expectations.
32. To be successful you have to be selfish, or you will never succeed. And when it reaches its highest level, then you have to be selfless. Stay in touch. Don’t isolate yourself
To stand out we first have to act in a way that we can take off and make a name for ourselves. However, once achieved, we must not let it go to our heads and help others do the same.
33. My attitude is such that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness around and turn it into a strength.
Aspects considered weaknesses can be a great strength, it all depends on the perspective and how they are worked on.
34. Sometimes you need to be hit in the head to realize you’re in a fight.
Sometimes we do not perceive our situation clearly until we are immersed in it.
35. Outside of the technique obtained beforehand, the results are beyond our control, so don’t worry about them
We can’t control everything , nor what is going to happen from our actions. Worrying about it excessively is inappropriate and does not bring any advantage.
36. In a team, not everyone can claim to have the same fame and press, but everyone can say that they are champions
Fame and prestige may not reach everyone equally, but teamwork is essential and all those who participate have equal value in achieving goals. common goals that drive our motivation
37. I build my talent on the shoulders of the talent of others
Talent and ability are often achieved through the training and help of people who have gone before us, showing us a possible path to follow and work from.
38. If you set your mind to do whatever you want, good things can happen
The disposition towards things and towards their implementation can cause great changes.
39. I have never been afraid of failing
Failure should not be seen as something negative, fearful or shameful. In fact, the very concept of failure is nothing more than a subjective assessment of the result of our actions. Additionally, we must trust that we are capable of achieving the desired results.
40. I never dreamed of getting where I have arrived
What we can achieve with effort can far exceed even what we intended to achieve.
41. Dreams are realized with effort, determination, passion and staying connected to the feeling of who you are
This phrase reflects the importance of acting according to one’s beliefs and move towards achieving our desires with determination.
42. Always transform a negative situation into a positive one
We are encouraged to adopt a vision that allows us to see positive aspects in the negative. It’s about turning misfortune into opportunity.
43. Sometimes a winner is simply a dreamer who never gave up
Perseverance is a value of great importance since it allows us to transform our dreams into reality.
44. I have failed again, and again, and again in my life. And that’s why I’ve been successful.
Learning is the key to success and that is especially allowed by failure.
45. My heroes are and were my parents, I can’t imagine having other people as heroes
Our roots are very important, since they are what have provided us with a context and values that have allowed our development.
46. I played every game of my life to the fullest until I was empty.
Michael Jordan expresses the need to put all his effort into achieving his goals.
47. I always thought there would be someone in the stands who was seeing me play live for the first time and I just didn’t want to disappoint that person or my fans or my team.
This phrase, again, encourages us to give the best of ourselves.
48. If you quit once it will become a habit. Never give up
Giving up is not an option, since it is easy to get used to doing so and stop fighting for what you want.
49. Make it happen
This phrase encourages us to look for a way to achieve what we want, instead of just contemplating it.
50. I am competing with what I am capable of doing
It is not about competing with others, but about reaching the maximum possible of our capabilities and exceeding these limits.
51. It is impossible to achieve this goal if you do not master the basics
It is necessary to master the most basic things in order to advance and develop.
52. What is love? Love is playing every game as if it were your last.
Risking it and putting everything into what we do or who we love is something we do when something or someone is important to us.
53. I hope that the millions of people I have touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and persevere with a positive attitude
This phrase reflects the author’s desire that his achievements can serve as inspiration.
54. The key to success is failure
Failure leads us to learn, which in the long run can lead us to success.
55. The best comes from the worst
Sometimes not getting what you want or bad things happening can end up leading to it.
56. If you do the work, you are rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life
We will not achieve anything if we do not strive for it.
57. I want to get up every day and do whatever comes to mind, and not feel pressure or obligations to do anything in my life.
Jordan reflects in this phrase the need for freedom.
58. When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you still have to learn the fundamentals
This phrase reminds us that, in everything, we must start from the bottom to grow and develop.
59. In any investment you have to expect to have fun and make money
What we do in life does not have to focus only on making money, but it should be something that fascinates and entertains us.
60. I want to be the bridge to the next generation
This phrase reflects the need to be productive and bequeath to the following generations an example that allows them to be inspired or a challenge to overcome.
61. If you are trying to achieve something, there will be stones in the way. I’ve had them, everyone has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you
Finding difficulties does not have to stop us from continuing to fight for what we want.
62. It would be impossible to play dumb in training and then, when I need more push at the end of a game, expect the effort to be reflected.
Even if it is just a rehearsal, we must give our best if we want to enhance our capacity.
63. Play sick. It is very hard. There has to be a mental challenge, as much as a physical one
A phrase that reflects the value of effort even when it represents a high challenge.
64. Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again
Jordan indicates in this phrase that once a decision has been made and carried out, it is useless to think about whether or not another path could have been taken.
65. Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game
This phrase encourages us to focus on enjoying what we do.
66. Obstacles should not stop you.
A philosophy that both in life and in sport can bring us great success.
67. I have never lost a game, I have just run out of time
Michael’s winning mentality makes him the greatest of all time.
68. The heart is what separates the good from the great
There is no doubt that to be a true sports superstar you need talent, but also heart and soul.
69. Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe I made you believe it was easy when it wasn’t. Maybe I made you think that my best moments started at the free throw line and not in the gym. Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a winning game
Jordan’s success was built through decades of work and commitment as a college player.
70. If it turns out that my best wasn’t good enough, at least I won’t look back and say I was afraid to try.
Only the greatest can overcome any adversity and move forward.
71. You against me for my Big Mac?
Jordan was a true gold mine for multiple commercial brands and multinational companies.
72. I believe that greatness is an evolutionary process that changes and evolves from era to era
A reflection shared by most of the great personalities in history.
73. I realized that if I was going to achieve anything in life, I had to be aggressive. I had to go out there and go for it.
A mentality that Jordan maintained throughout his career and that always made him succeed.
74. Winning doesn’t always translate into championships.
Success is based on many other things, such as recognition or the love of your family.
75. It’s not about the sneakers. It’s about knowing where you’re going. Without forgetting where you started. It’s about having the courage to fail
This was the slogan of one of the most remembered advertisements of this great basketball player.
76. Enjoy every minute of life. Never question the life you have.
Some of Michael Jordan’s quotes are advice that we can integrate into our daily lives.
77. I will play for a championship college team, and then I will play in the NBA
In the movie “Space Jam” we see a young Michael Jordan talking with his father and sharing his deepest dreams.
78. Stay accessible. Stay in contact. Do not isolate yourself.
Jordan always knew how to get the most out of his talent, both on and off the court.
79. Bugs Bunny? You are a drawing, you are not real
The world was surprised by Jordan’s acting in the movie “Space Jam”
80. I want to help you, but I haven’t played basketball in a while, I’ve lost my rhythm.
In this movie, Jordan must help the Looney Tunes beat some evil aliens in a basketball game.
