Quotes that last

Muhammad Ali left us this thought on success and courage

Throughout history, sports legends have given us more than just great games to watch. These were people at the top of their game who pushed themselves to the limit. And still, along the way, they picked up knowledge that is relevant to all of us. Michael Jordan taught us how to overcome failure, Muhammad Ali showed us how to be brave, and Babe Ruth told us we should keep going when everything in you wants to quit. Here are ten quotes that stand the test of time.

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

Ali said this in the early 1960s, a period when he was still known as Cassius Clay and was just beginning to make noise both inside the ring and outside of it. For a young Black man in America at that time, simply speaking his mind the way he did was itself an act of courage. The quote struck a chord far beyond sports: civil rights activists, artists, and everyday people saw in it something that went well past boxing. Ali wasn't just talking about throwing punches. He was talking about life, and people understood that immediately. Decades later, it still hits just as hard.

"I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Jordan said this as part of a Nike commercial in 1997, at the height of his fame: five championships in, considered by most to already be the greatest of all time. The ad showed him missing shots, getting it wrong, falling short. America was a little stunned. This was Michael Jordan admitting failure? The commercial became one of the most celebrated sports ads ever made, precisely because it felt so honest. Coming from the man who seemingly never lost, it gave everyone else permission to fail without shame.

"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up."

Ruth said this sometime in the 1920s, during his legendary run with the New York Yankees, an era when he was rewriting the record books almost every season. The exact moment is fuzzy, but the sentiment fit Ruth perfectly, a man who struck out more than almost anyone of his era and simply didn't care. Fans and journalists embraced it immediately because it came from someone who clearly lived by it. Ruth wasn't just talking about baseball. He was talking about the stubborn, almost unreasonable refusal to fold, and people recognized that as something worth holding onto.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

Gretzky said this during a 1983 interview, already well on his way to becoming the NHL's all-time leading scorer. It was a casual remark, almost throwaway, but sports writers immediately latched onto it. Over the following decades, it grew into one of the most quoted lines in motivational history, showing up in business seminars, graduation speeches, and self-help books far beyond the world of hockey. Gretzky himself has expressed mild amusement at how far it traveled.

"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth."

July 4, 1939. Yankee Stadium. Lou Gehrig had just been diagnosed with ALS and stood at home plate in front of 62,000 fans to say goodbye. The stadium went completely silent as he spoke. Grown men wept in the stands. Sportswriters, many of them veterans of covering wars and tragedies, later said it was the most emotional moment they had ever witnessed. What moved people most wasn't just sadness; it was his extraordinary grace. A man facing a death sentence but choosing to count his blessings. It remains one of the most powerful moments in American sports history.

"Champions keep playing until they get it right."

King said this in the early 1970s, during a period when she was not only dominating women's tennis but fighting tooth and nail for equal prize money and respect for female athletes. Her words landed differently in that context: this wasn't just sports talk, it was a battle cry. Female athletes and women in general responded with tremendous enthusiasm because the quote spoke to what so many of them were living every day: having to try twice as hard just to be taken half as seriously.

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."

Lombardi said this to his Green Bay Packers in the early 1960s, a period when he was turning a struggling franchise into a dynasty. Players later recalled that his speeches had a way of making them feel like they could run through a wall — and then they'd go out and nearly do it. When the quote reached the general public, it resonated deeply because it reframed what competition actually meant. You can't always control the scoreboard, but you can control your hunger. In a culture that often confused effort with outcome, Lombardi's distinction felt like a revelation.

"Don't give up. Don't ever give up."

March 4, 1993. The inaugural ESPY Awards in New York City. NC State basketball coach Jimmy Valvano, visibly weakened and in tremendous pain from bone cancer, walked to the podium and delivered eight minutes that left virtually no one in the room dry-eyed. He said it twice — "Don't give up. Don't ever give up" — and the repetition made it hit even harder. The crowd gave him a standing ovation that seemed like it would never end. Valvano passed away just eight weeks later. The V Foundation, which he founded that night, has since raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research. Few moments in sports history have ever hit quite that hard.

"It ain't over till it's over."

Berra said this in July 1973, when a reporter asked him about his New York Mets' slim chances of winning the division; they were sitting in last place at the time. Most people laughed at first, because it sounded like classic Yogi nonsense. But then the Mets went on an improbable run and nearly won it all, and suddenly nobody was laughing anymore. The quote took on a sort of magical quality after that. It has since become one of the most universally used phrases in American culture: sports, politics, business, you name it.

"Age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind."

For anyone who has ever let age talk them out of something, this one lands differently every single time you hear it. Joyner-Kersee said this in the mid-1990s, as she continued competing at the highest level of track and field well into her 30s, an age when most athletes in her sport had long since retired. She had won six Olympic medals, battled severe asthma her entire career, and competed through injuries that would have ended most careers. The response from fans, particularly older ones, was deeply personal. Here was someone telling them, from hard-won experience, that the clock doesn't have to run the show.

Your pup will thank you

You've been wrong about dogs this whole time! Here's the truth!

Image: Jametlene Reskp

Dogs are part of the family: They're our best friends and our constant companions. But over the years, myths about dog behavior have made their way into common belief. Some sound logical, while others are just crazy, but how do we separate fact from fiction? Can dogs really tell time? Is chocolate always deadly? Let's take a look at some of the most common myths about our four-legged friends, some of which might just surprise you!

Image: Dominik QN

Many dog owners believe that once their pup has reached a certain age, training becomes impossible. It’s only logical: When we see a young pup and their eagerness to pick up on commands quickly, we tend to think older ones won’t be able to do that. Because of this, many people give up on training their senior dogs, assuming the effort won’t pay off. But is this belief really true? Place your bets!

Image: Camylla Battani

As it turns out, age is just a number: Dogs are capable of learning at any stage of life! While older dogs may take a little longer to pick up new habits, just like we humans, their brains remain highly adaptable.

Training activities work best when it’s fun, positive, and rewarding, so grab some tasty treats and start small. Short, frequent training sessions are the key to success.

Image: Matthew Henry

Ever leave the house and come back to a dog who acts like you’ve been gone for years? Many assume dogs don’t understand time, thinking they react the same whether you’ve been gone for five minutes or five hours.

Since they don’t read clocks, it’s easy to assume they live entirely in the moment. But if that’s the case, how do they seem to know exactly when it’s time for dinner or their daily walk?

Image: Karsten Winegeart

Science confirms that dogs have a sense of time. Studies have shown that dogs can distinguish between different time intervals, meaning they know the difference between an hour and several hours. But how?

They associate events with specific routines. If you always walk them at a certain time, they’ll start anticipating it. Some experts believe dogs use scent to tell time, as human odors change throughout the day. So yes, your dog really does know if you’re late for dinner!

Image: Tim Mossholder

On warm days, it’s tempting to crack the windows and run into the store, thinking your pup will be fine for a few minutes. After all, they have fresh air, right? Many people assume that as long as the windows are open, there’s no risk of overheating. But just how safe is it?

Image: John Carlo Tubelleza

Leaving a dog in a parked car, even for a few minutes, can be incredibly dangerous. Cars heat up shockingly fast, even with the windows cracked, and dogs have a harder time regulating body temperature than humans.

Heatstroke can set in quickly, and once it does, it can be fatal. If you wouldn’t sit in a parked car on a hot day, why would you let your dog do so?

Image: Erica Magugliani

Humans rely on words to express emotions, but dogs sadly don’t have that luxury. Many assume that while dogs pick up on body language, they can’t actually sense how we feel.

After all, emotions are internal, right? However, have you ever felt your dog was closer than ever when you’re feeling down? Is that real, or is it just your mind playing tricks?

Image: Eric Ward

If you said this was possible, you were right! Dogs don’t just guess your feelings; they can smell them! Their noses are 100,000 times more powerful than ours, meaning they pick up on chemical changes in our bodies.

When we’re scared or anxious, we sweat slightly differently, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Your dog doesn’t just see your nervous body language; they literally smell your fear. So yes, they know when you’re having a bad day, and that’s why they’re always ready to comfort you.

Image: James Barker

Chocolate is delicious, and dogs seem eager to try everything we eat, don’t they? We might feel tempted to share our piece of chocolate with our furry best friend.

Many people believe that while chocolate is technically bad for dogs, a small amount won’t actually cause harm. If a dog sneaks a bite of a cookie or a tiny piece of chocolate, it’s no big deal… right?

Image: Artem Sapegin

Well, chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that is toxic to dogs. The danger of it depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. Naturally, dark chocolate is the worst, as it contains the highest levels of theobromine.

While a tiny bit of milk chocolate might not be fatal, it can still cause vomiting, diarrhea, or heart issues. If your dog eats any chocolate, call your vet immediately. You know the saying: Better safe than sorry!

Image: Stas Svechnikov

When humans have aches and pains, we reach for ibuprofen or aspirin. Some dog owners assume it’s safe to give their pups a tiny dose of these medications if they’re injured or sick. After all, if it helps humans, it must help dogs too, right?

Image: Laula Co

That’s actually not the case! Giving ibuprofen to your dog can have serious, even fatal, consequences.

Dogs process medication differently than humans, and even small doses can cause stomach ulcers, kidney damage, or liver failure. If your dog is in pain, never give them human medicine. Just consult your vet for safe, pet-approved pain relief options. What works for us doesn’t always work for them!