50 Most Inspirational Quotes in Sports

It doesn't matter if your dad owns a professional sports team or if you play squash on the weekends with Rupert Murdoch; if you don't perform as an elite athlete or coach, then you're history.

Consequently, the people in this list are uniquely qualified to inspire.

Major sports figures have professions that are intensely competitive, emotionally draining and—on the plus side—decidedly more exciting than your sad, meager existence.

But in the spirit of turning things around for you, I've curated a list of motivating quotes from those who have made it to the top.

Hopefully, these pearls of wisdom will inspire you to join a CrossFit gym, learn to play the piano or demand stock options during a hostile annual review with your employer.

Before we begin, this article does not include quotes from sports movies. If you're looking for scripted inspiration, click here. Also, to ensure that Vince Lombardi and John Wooden don’t saturate this list with prosaic musings, I've limited each sports personality to one quote each.

The first day of the rest of your life begins now with the 50 most inspirational quotes in sports.

Joe Namath

Image via AP Photo/Richard Drew

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Dwayne Johnson

Image via AP Photo/Evan Agostini

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Reggie Jackson

Image via AP Photo

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Laird Hamilton

Image via AP Photo/Neuro Drinks

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Dean Smith

Image via AP Photo

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Billie Jean King

Image via AP Photo

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Lou Brock

Image via AP Photo

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Charles Barkley

Image via AP Photo

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Hank Aaron

Image via AP Photo

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Marshawn Lynch

Image via AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

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Mark Spitz

Image via AP Photo

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Jim Abbott

Image via AP Photo/Mike Albans

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Carl Lewis

Image via AP Photo/Eric Risberg

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Larry Bird

Image via AP Photo/Ed Nessen

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Pat Summitt

Image via AP Photo/Sara D. Davis

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Tom Landry

Image via AP Photo

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Tommy Lasorda

Image via AP

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Mario Andretti

Image via AP Photo

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George Allen

Image via AP Photo

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Gary Player

Image via AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

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Jack Dempsey

Image via AP Photo

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Bobby Bowden

Image via AP Photo/Chris Gardner

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Julius Erving

Image via AP Photo

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Bobby Knight

Image via AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

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Roger Staubach

Image via AP Photo/Charles Bennett

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Wilt Chamberlain

Image via AP Photo

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Herb Brooks

Image via AP Photo

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Mia Hamm

Image via AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson

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Jackie Robinson

Image via AP Photo/John Roone

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Bruce Lee

Image via AP Photo

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Steve Prefontaine

Image via AP

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Pat Tillman

Image via AP Photo/Roy Dabner

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Knute Rockne

Image via AP Photo

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Pat Riley

Image via AP Photo/Marta Lavandier

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Jim Valvano

Image via AP Photo

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John Madden

Image via AP Photo

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Paul "Bear" Bryant

Image via AP Photo/Joe Holloway Jr.

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John Wooden

Image via AP Photo

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Muhammad Ali

Image via AP

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Lou Gehrig

Image via AP Photo/Murray Becker

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Eddie Robinson

Image via AP Photo

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Arthur Ashe

Image via AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy

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Wayne Gretzky

Image via AP Photo/Leon Algee

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Roberto Clemente

Image via AP Photo

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Mike Ditka

Image via AP Photo/Charles Bennet

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Babe Ruth

Image via AP Photo/Harry Harris

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Lou Holtz

Image via AP Photo/Joe Raymond

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Jesse Owens

Image via AP Photos

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Michael Jordan

Image via AP Photo

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Vince Lombardi

Image via AP Photo

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