If you’re paid before you walk on the court, what’s the point in playing as if your life depended on it?
ARTHUR ASHEIf I didn’t play tennis I probably would have to see a psychiatrist.
More Arthur Ashe Quotes
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If one’s reputation is a possession, then of all my possessions, my reputation means most to me.
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From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.
ARTHUR ASHE -
My humanity, in common with all of God’s children, gives the greatest flight to my full range of my possibilities.
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Fear isn’t an excuse to come to a standstill. It’s the impetus to step up and strike.
ARTHUR ASHE -
Always have the situation under control, even if losing. Never betray an inward sense of defeat.
ARTHUR ASHE -
If I were to say, ‘God, why me?’ about the bad things, then I should have said, ‘God, why me?’ about the good things that happened in my life.
ARTHUR ASHE -
When we were together, I loved you deeply and you gave me so much happiness I can never repay you.
ARTHUR ASHE -
A wise person decides slowly but abides by these decisions.
ARTHUR ASHE -
We must believe in the power of education. We must respect just laws. We must love ourselves, our old and or young, our women as well as our men.
ARTHUR ASHE -
True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
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This is my career highlight. Getting to the fourth round in the U.S. Open in my first year in the U.S. Open and first year on the tour.
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If I don’t ask “Why me?” after my victories, I cannot ask “Why me?” after my setbacks and disasters.
ARTHUR ASHE -
Seven out of 10 black faces you see on television are athletes. The black athlete carries the image of the black community. He carries the cross, in a way, until blacks make inroads in other dimensions.
ARTHUR ASHE -
A couple of times a day I sit quietly and visualize my body fighting the AIDS virus. It’s the same as me sitting and seeing myself hit the perfect serve. I did that often when I was an athlete.
ARTHUR ASHE -
My potential is more than can be expressed within the bounds of my race or ethnic identity.
ARTHUR ASHE -
Life is like a tennis game. You can’t win without serving.
ARTHUR ASHE -
One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.
ARTHUR ASHE -
Let me put it this way: I think Republicans tend to keep the ball in play, Democrats go for broke.
ARTHUR ASHE -
Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.
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The ideal attitude is to be physically loose and mentally tight.
ARTHUR ASHE -
If one’s reputation is a possession, then of all my possessions, my reputation means most to me.
ARTHUR ASHE -
Drummed into me, above all, by my dad, by the whole family, was that without your good name, you would be nothing.
ARTHUR ASHE -
There is a terrific apprehension among some people that blacks will take over the sport… It will create problems because their behavior, speech and dress is just a completely different culture.
ARTHUR ASHE -
There is a syndrome in sports called ‘paralysis by analysis.’
ARTHUR ASHE -
I accepted the face that as much as I want to lead others, and love to be around other people, in some essential way, I am something of a loner.
ARTHUR ASHE -
Racism is not an excuse to not do the best you can.
ARTHUR ASHE