“It dawned on me with blinding brightness. I realized: I had jumped into another rare kind of stratosphere – one that only a handful of people in every generation are lucky enough to know.”

Only by Gods grace have I made it to see today and only by Gods grace will I ever see tomorrow.

We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.

The only victory that counts is the one over yourself.

The secret is, first, get a thoroughbred horse because they are the most nervous animals on earth. Then get the biggest gun you can find and make sure the starter fires that big gun right by the nervous thoroughbred’s ear.

I let my feet spend as little time on the ground as possible. From the air, fast down, and from the ground, fast up.

A lifetime of training for just ten seconds.

Although I wasn’t invited to shake hands with Hitler, I wasn’t invited to the White House to shake hands with the President either.

Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.

It was bad enough to have toppled from the Olympic heights to make my living competing with animals. But the competition wasn’t even fair. No man could beat a race horse, not even for 100 yards.

I fought, I fought harder, but one cell at a time, panic crept into my body, taking me over.

I had four gold medals, but you can’t eat four gold medals.

Find the good. It’s all around you. Find it, showcase it and you’ll start believing in it.

The only bond worth anything between human beings is their humanness.

People come out to see you perform and you’ve got to give them the best you have within you.

I’d noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we’d play games where there was running or jumping.

To a sprinter, the hundred-yard dash is over in three seconds, not nine or ten.

The “we” of your divine birthright – the one that is aware of its place as part of the collective whole – knows that it is your sacred obligation to shine your brightest light, not just in your moments of glory but each day.

You’re like that fiery sunset that no one expects after a rainy day. It always makes your day brighter.

When writing poetry, it is not that produces a bright idea, but the bright idea that kindles the fire of.

I think America is still a bright, shining city on the hill – not because we’re perfect but because we struggle in our imperfections every day.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white.

The night is full of stars but none glows as bright as you.

There may be a brighter star. But through my eyes the light of you is all I see.

When she shines, she shines bright. Radiant I suppose. Kind for kindness, she lights up to be seen.