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If I don't ask Why me? after my victories, I cannot ask Why me? after my setbacks and disasters.

Arthur Ashe

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Arthur Ashe
Age: 49 †
Born: 1943
Born: July 10
Died: 1993
Died: February 6
Military Officer
Tennis Player
Richmond
Virginia
Arthur Robert Ashe
Jr.
Setback
Victories
Disaster
Victory
Personality
Asks
Cannot
Setbacks
Disasters

More quotes by Arthur Ashe

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Throughout my formal education I spent many, many hours in public and school libraries. Libraries became courts of last resort, as it were. The current definitive answer to almost any question can be found within the four walls of most libraries.
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Always have the situation under control, even if losing. Never betray an inward sense of defeat.
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My potential is more than can be expressed within the bounds of my race or ethnic identity.
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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.
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A wise person decides slowly but abides by these decisions.
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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.
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Sometimes, a defeat can be more beautiful and satisfying than certain victories. The English have a point in insisting that it matters not who won or lost, but how you played the game.
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You really are never playing an opponent. You are playing yourself.
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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.
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I have always drawn strength from being close to home.
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You've got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.
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We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.
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There's no better stage than the U.S. Open for me
Arthur Ashe
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I don't care who you are, you're going to choke in certain matches. You get to a point where your legs don't move and you can't take a deep breath. You start to hit the ball about a yard wide, instead of inches.
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I don't want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments.
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There is a terrific apprehension among some people that blacks will take over the sport... It will create problems because their behavior, speech and dress is just a completely different culture.
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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?'
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If you're paid before you walk on the court, what's the point in playing as if your life depended on it?
Arthur Ashe
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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
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Life is like a tennis game. You can't win without serving.
Arthur Ashe