Quote

You really are never playing an opponent. You are playing yourself.

Arthur Ashe

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Arthur Ashe
Age: 49 †
Born: 1943
Born: July 10
Died: 1993
Died: February 6
Military Officer
Tennis Player
Richmond
Virginia
Arthur Robert Ashe
Jr.
Opponent
Opponents
Playing
Really
Never

More quotes by Arthur Ashe

Image
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.
Arthur Ashe
Image
You've got to make a lot of sacrifices and spend a lot of time if you really want to achieve with this sport, or in any sport, or in anything truly worthwhile.
Arthur Ashe
Image
A couple of times a day I sit quietly and visualize my body fighting the AIDS virus. It's the same as me sitting and seeing myself hit the perfect serve. I did that often when I was an athlete.
Arthur Ashe
Image
I know I could never forgive myself if I elected to live without humane purpose, without trying to help the poor and unfortunate, without recognizing that perhaps the purest joy in life comes with trying to help others.
Arthur Ashe
Image
Always have the situation under control, even if losing. Never betray an inward sense of defeat.
Arthur Ashe
Image
Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner.
Arthur Ashe
Image
I would like to flood South Africa with black personages of all sorts of persuasions: writers, educators, businessmen, you name it. If you are black and have any clout at all, I would like to see you go to South Africa and look for yourself and come back and try to use the tools that you have at your command to try and help the brothers down there.
Arthur Ashe
Image
I don't want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments. That's no contribution to society. [Tennis] was purely selfish that was for me.
Arthur Ashe
Image
In America you're conditioned to regard everything as a contest. You have to make the Ten Best Dressed List, win this, win that. It drives me nuts sometimes. Who cares, for Christ's sake?
Arthur Ashe
Image
The best way to judge a life is to ask yourself, Did I make the best use of the time I had?
Arthur Ashe
Image
There is a syndrome in sports called 'paralysis by analysis.'
Arthur Ashe
Image
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.
Arthur Ashe
Image
Seven out of 10 black faces you see on television are athletes. The black athlete carries the image of the black community. He carries the cross, in a way, until blacks make inroads in other dimensions.
Arthur Ashe
Image
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.
Arthur Ashe
Image
When we were together, I loved you deeply and you gave me so much happiness I can never repay you.
Arthur Ashe
Image
I have always drawn strength from being close to home.
Arthur Ashe
Image
A wise person decides slowly but abides by these decisions.
Arthur Ashe
Image
You've got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.
Arthur Ashe
Image
Martina's like the old Green Bay Packers. You know exactly what she's going to do, but there isn't a thing you can do about it.
Arthur Ashe
Image
My humanity, in common with all of God's children, gives the greatest flight to my full range of my possibilities.
Arthur Ashe