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Success and excellence are not the same. Excellence grows within a person, is largely within that person's control, and its meaning lasts. Success is measured externally, by comparison to others, is often outside our control, and is perishable.

Joe Paterno

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Joe Paterno
Age: 85 †
Born: 1926
Born: December 21
Died: 2012
Died: January 22
American Football Coach
American Football Player
Basketball Player
Football Coach
Writer
Brooklyn
New York
Joseph Vincent Paterno
Joseph Paterno
JoePa
Person
Sports
Externally
Grows
Measured
Within
Largely
Lasts
Comparison
Success
Excellence
Often
Meaning
Others
Outside
Persons
Control
Perishable

More quotes by Joe Paterno

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To teach an academic subject is certainly not easy, but compared to coaching, it is. We can say two plus two is four to every kid and be sure that we are right. But in coaching, we have to literally get to the soul of the people we are dealing with.
Joe Paterno
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You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That's the mark of a true professional.
Joe Paterno
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Success without honor is an unseasoned dish it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good.
Joe Paterno
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Some things I thought were important for a young man to know.
Joe Paterno
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I had a great bunch of kids. They all hung with us. The coaching staff hung with us. And we played tough every game. If you've got kids that want to play and react to you, it's fun. I'm having a good time.
Joe Paterno
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Success is best measured by the achiever.
Joe Paterno
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Its the name on the front of the jersey that matters most, not the one on the back.
Joe Paterno
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My father said about money: 'You have to have some. But you don't have to have all of it. Just be honest with yourself.'
Joe Paterno
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My name, I have spent my whole life trying to make that name mean something. And now it's gone.
Joe Paterno
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Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.
Joe Paterno
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In hindsight, I wish I had done more.
Joe Paterno
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We need people who influence their peers and who cannot be detoured from their convictions by peers who do not have the courage to have any convictions.
Joe Paterno
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Failure is not getting beat. Failure is when you don't do a good job preparing.
Joe Paterno
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Don't just stand back and play the way you're coached. A great player must rise to the occasion and turn the game around on his own.
Joe Paterno
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When a kid plays football before he attends a class, something is wrong.
Joe Paterno
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You can't have a great university without a great library.
Joe Paterno
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Right now I'm trying to figure out what I'm gonna do, 'cause I don't want to sit around on my backside all day. If I'm gonna do that I'll be a newspaper reporter.
Joe Paterno
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We play with enthusiasm and recklessness. We aren't afraid to lose. If we win, great but win or lose, it is the competition that gives us pleasure.
Joe Paterno
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Keep hustling, something good will happen.
Joe Paterno
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The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.
Joe Paterno