Arthur Ashe was the first African-American man to win the US Open and Wimbledon singles titles. Before he was ranked, there was no other African American man in the world’s top 10. He was also the first person to be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
Furthermore, he remained an active activist. When he discovered that he had contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, he became an outspoken advocate for the disease. But time did not stand still for him, and he died on February 6, 1993. Arthur Ashe, a legend, died on that day. Here are some of his quotes:
“Start where you are, use what you have.”
“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”
“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”
“YOU’VE GOT TO GET TO THE STAGE IN LIFE WHERE GOING FOR IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WINNING OR LOSING.”
“Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner.”
“ONE IMPORTANT KEY TO SUCCESS IS SELF-CONFIDENCE. AN IMPORTANT KEY TO SELF-CONFIDENCE IS PREPARATION.” – ARTHUR ASHE
“The ideal attitude is to be physically loose and mentally tight.”
“I don’t want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments.”
“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.”
“WE MUST REACH OUT OUR HAND IN FRIENDSHIP AND DIGNITY BOTH TO THOSE WHO WOULD BEFRIEND US AND THOSE WHO WOULD BE OUR ENEMY.”
“It doesn’t have to glitter to be gold.”
“Fear isn’t an excuse to come to a standstill. It’s the impetus to step up and strike.”
“You learn about equality in history and civics, but you find out life is not really like that.”
“Every time you win, it diminishes the fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.”
“THE BEST WAY TO JUDGE A LIFE IS TO ASK YOURSELF, “DID I MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE TIME I HAD?”
“You really are never playing an opponent. You are playing yourself.”
“I have always tried to be true to myself, to pick those battles I felt were important. My ultimate responsibility is to myself. I could never be anything else.”
“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.”
“Racism is not an excuse to not do the best you can.”
“Trust has to be earned, and should come only after the passage of time.”
“LATER, I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO BEING GOOD IN TENNIS.”
“There is a syndrome in sports called ‘paralysis by analysis.’
“My potential is more than can be expressed within the bounds of my race or ethnic identity.”
“The world over – 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi-final, 2 to the finals, when I was holding a cup I never asked GOD ‘Why me?’. And today in pain I should not be asking GOD ‘Why me?’”
“I have tried to keep on with my striving because this is the only hope I have of ever achieving anything worthwhile and lasting.”
“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.
“WHEN BRIGHT YOUNG MINDS CAN’T AFFORD COLLEGE, AMERICA PAYS THE PRICE.”
“You come to realize that life is short, and you have to step up. Don’t feel sorry for me. Much is expected of those who are strong.
“A wise person decides slowly but abides by these decisions.”
“It’s an abnormal world I live in. I don’t belong anywhere. It’s like I’m floating down the middle. I’m never quite sure where I am.”
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