It’s really impossible for athletes to grow up. On the one hand, you’re still a child, still playing a game. But on the other hand, you’re a superhuman hero that everyone dreams of being. No wonder we have such a hard time understanding who we are.
BILLIE JEAN KINGI will tell you King’s First Law of Recognition: You never get it when you want it, and then when it comes, you get too much.
More Billie Jean King Quotes
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Winning comes down to who can execute under pressure.
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I would just never out anybody. I think everyone has to find it in their own way and their own time.
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Marriage isn’t a 50-50 proposition very often. It’s more like 100-0 one moment and 0-100 the next.
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I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.
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I didn’t really care if I had a coach that much, me personally, because I was brought up to think for myself.
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I think one of the concerns, anytime you’re in the human business, like sports, it’s a very high – risk endeavor.
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The old boy network is still very strong and very true. Just look at the stock exchange and how many men and women are there. It is still very much run by men.
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You have got to want to be the best before you can even begin to reach for that goal, and you have got to be prepared to sacrifice a lot to get there.
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At 62 you want to keep moving; that’s important.
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Ask Nureyev to stop dancing, ask Sinatra to stop singing, then you can ask me to stop playing.
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Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It’s dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.
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The most important words that have helped me in life, when things have gone right or when things have gone wrong are ‘accept responsibility.’
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Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity.
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We have, or have had women presidents or prime ministers in Liberia, Chile, Germany, Great Britain…and yet the US of A still hasn’t had a women president. It’s just beyond my thinking. Look at Congress.
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Being Number One isn’t everything to me, but for those few hours on the court it’s way ahead of whatever’s in second place.
BILLIE JEAN KING