Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.
Woody HayesRead
I'm not trying to win a popularity poll. I'm trying to win football games.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes prioritizing goals over seeking approval from others.
Woody Hayes expresses the idea that true success comes from focusing on achieving one's objectives—in his case, winning football games—rather than worrying about public opinion or popularity. This highlights the importance of determination and commitment to one's goals, suggesting that external validation should not distract from pursuing excellence in one's chosen field.
Themes
SuccessGoalsDeterminationFocusFootball
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech for a sports team, to encourage players to focus on their performance rather than what others think.
More from Woody Hayes
All quotes →Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach.
Woody HayesRead
The minute I think I'm getting mellow, I'm retiring. Who ever heard of a mellow winner?
Woody HayesRead
I don't apologize for anything. When I make a mistake, I take the blame and go on from there. I just despise to lose, and that has taken a man of mediocre ability and made a pretty good coach out of him.
Woody HayesRead
The only thing even in this world is the number of hours in a day. The difference in winning or losing is what you do with those hours.
Woody HayesRead
There's nothing in this world that comes easy. There are a lot of people who aren't going to bother to win. We learn in football to get up and go once more.
Woody HayesRead
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