Quote

I strongly believe the black culture spends too much time, energy and effort raising, praising, and teasing our black children about the dubious glories of professional sports.

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.
Black
Professional
Teasing
Children
Praise
Praising
Glory
Glories
Much
Sports
Dubious
Believe
Effort
Tease
Time
Belief
Spends
Energy
Raising
Culture
Strongly

More quotes by 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
I guess I started too early because I just thought it was something fun to do.
Arthur Ashe
Image
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.
Arthur Ashe
Image
There is a syndrome in sports called 'paralysis by analysis.'
Arthur Ashe
Image
I have always drawn strength from being close to home.
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
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
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
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
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.
Arthur Ashe
Image
We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.
Arthur Ashe
Image
Always have the situation under control, even if losing. Never betray an inward sense of defeat.
Arthur Ashe
Image
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?'
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
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
Later, I discovered there was a lot of work to being good in tennis.
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
You really are never playing an opponent. You are playing yourself.
Arthur Ashe
Image
We must believe in the power of education. We must respect just laws. We must love ourselves, our old and or young, our women as well as our men.
Arthur Ashe
Image
A wise person decides slowly but abides by these decisions.
Arthur Ashe