The loser is always a part of the problem; the winner is always a part of the answer. The loser always has an excuse; the winner always has a program. The loser says it may be possible, but it's difficult; the winner says it may be difficult, but it's possible.

Most of us who aspire to be tops in our fields don't really consider the amount of work required to stay tops.

In the field of sports you are more or less accepted for what you do rather than what you are.

From 143rd Street in Harlem to the center court at Wimbledon is about as far as one can travel.

I don't consciously beat the drums for any cause, not even the negro in the United States.

I always wanted to be somebody...If I've made it, it's half because I was game to take a wicked amount of punishment along the way, and half because there were an awful lot of people who cared enough to help me.

Shaking hands with the Queen of England was a long way from being forced to sit in the colored section of the bus going into downtown Wilmington, North Carolina.