Mike Ditka Quotes

I think it's important to stretch as you get older, but I try to do basically all the things I did when I played, except I can't do them as well and as much.

The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves.

Jesus's first temptation was to be relevant: to turn stones into bread. Oh, how often I wished I could do that!

Cap Boso? How could I cut a guy with a name like that?

Some people are willing to pay the price and it's the same with staying healthy or eating healthy. There's some discipline involved. There's some sacrifices.

Success is never permanent, and failure is never final.

If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms.

You remember what happened when Eddie Pipp got hurt? A guy named Lou Gehrig took over.

We have a strange and wonderful relationship - he's strange and I'm wonderful.

One of my favorite things is mayonnaise and I have to tell you that. I love mayonnaise, but I don't eat it any more. If I do I put light mayonnaise on it, which I know is still not good but it's a lot better than the other one and I don't eat it that much.

I don't care where you are, but the fans only remember your last time at bat.

I understand that people don't want to smoke. Fine. Don't smoke. You don't want to go into a restaurant where there's [smoking], don't go in there. But don't impose your will - the will of a few - on the lives of many.

Effort without talent is a depressing situation... but talent without effort is a tragedy.

If you're not in the parade, you watch the parade. That's life.

There are teams that are fair-haired, and those that aren't so fair-haired. Some teams are named Smith, some Grabowski. We're Grabowskis!

People want a cop-out, listen I'm a realist and I talk about motivation, talk about all the things it takes to be greater or are important to win and people want to use excuses all the time.

Coffee, It's the life blood that fuels the dreams of champions!

Not really, and actually my cholesterol was 190 when I had the heart attack. 190, which isn't that high. I took it down to about 130 and it's probably about 140 or 145 now.

I don't pick on anybody who has a number above 30.

So, when it comes to eating healthy, it's just doing the right thing. And it's not something you have to do 365 days a year, but I think it's something you have to do 25 days a month. Let's put it that way.

Those who live in the past are cowards and losers.

I've been into the habit of freezing white grapes and using them as a snack. Instead of eating peanuts or popcorn or something like that or pretzels, I just eat the white grapes.

Eating properly is great. I mean you cut the fat down, cut the cholesterol out, but still you got to get your rest and you got to have some form of exercise.

In life, you get what you tolerate.

Well, after I had the heart attack, it was a very simple choice. What the doctor told me I did and I did it religiously. I ate nothing but lean turkey breast or chicken breast or a piece of fish that was very lean. I mean I stayed away from everything.

You got to sue the offensive line for non-support

Life's not about money. Look at achievements, accomplishments . It's about having fun. It's about enjoying life.

The shoulder surgery was a success. The lobotomy failed.

You have to be tough.

Success is about taking advantage of opportunity.

I really believe the only way to stay healthy is to eat properly, get your rest and exercise. If you don't exercise and do the other two, I still don't think it's going to help you that much.

When I get my heart rate up, I get good exercise and I think it's good for a lot of things, plus it's not hurting my hips right now.

Before you can win, you have to believe you are worthy.

I'm not going to make it the all - everything. Our (the Saints) goal is to get better, make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl, but I'm not gonna anguish over it like I have in the past.

If you don't play, then don't pick up a paycheck. Competition is why you play the game. I understand they've already reached some goals. That's all good. But if you can make history, take a shot at it.

I do like beer, but lately I've started drinking non-alcoholic beer and I like the taste of it and I don't get the alcohol, so that's a good alternative also.

I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it. I think if you are determined enough and willing to pay the price, you can get it done.

Success isn't measured by money or power or social rank. Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.

The greatest gift we have is the gift of life.

Just because you liked something as a youngster doesn't mean you have to like it as an adult. You can change your taste a little bit on the sweets and things like that.

I always tell people I want to live to be 150 and they say why would you want to do that. I say, well there's a few people I haven't made mad yet, I want to get them.

When I put some Tabasco on things, and there's really nothing in Tabasco, it's not bad for you in any way, so that's kind of become my substitute. Now you got to get used to a hot mouth, but that's okay.

You see people who have been very heavy in their life who have taken that body, trimmed it down, firmed it up through discipline, exercise and being able to say no. Eating properly, that all comes into it.

Here's what I tell anybody and this is what I believe. The greatest gift we have is the gift of life. We understand that. That comes from our Creator. We're given a body. Now you may not like it, but you can maximize that body the best it can be maximized.

Success is about having. Excellence is about Being!

I think your alcohol intake has to change. You know, usually a big person feels they can drink anything they want to and as much as they want to and I've cut that way back.

I'm not a mean player. You'll notice I never pick on a player who has a number above 30.

I don't believe in living in the past. Living in the past is for cowards. If you live in the past, you die in the past.