There is no victory at bargain basement prices.

Dwight David Eisenhower

To become a champion, fight one more round.

James Corbett

If you are not big enough to lose, you are not big enough to win.

Walter Reuther

Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.

Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good.

Vince Lombardi

The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win.

Roger Bannister

A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.

Jack Dempsey, an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926 and is considered one of the best punchers of all time.

When I was a young fellow I was knocked down plenty. I wanted to stay down, but I couldn’t. I had to collect the two dollars for winning or go hungry. I had to get up. I was one of those hungry fighters. You could have hit me on the chin with a sledgehammer for five dollars. When you haven’t eaten for two days you’ll understand.

Jack Dempsey

To be a champ you have to believe in yourself when no one else will.

Sugar Ray Robinson

In the end, it’s extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more that that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose?

Jesse Owens