Quotes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

You can't win unless you learn how to lose.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Education

When I was 17, I worked in a mentoring program in Harlem designed to improve the community. That's when I first gained an appreciation of the Harlem Renaissance, a time when African-Americans rose to prominence in American culture. For the first time, they were taken seriously as artists, musicians, writers, athletes, and as political thinkers.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Success

A lot of young players don't really know much about the history of the game and a lot of them are missing out on what the game is all about, especially the whole concept of sportsmanship and teamwork.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Success

I try to do the right thing at the right time. They may just be little things, but usually they make the difference between winning and losing.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

The word 'leukemia' is a very frightening word. In many instances, it's a killer and it's something that you have to deal with in a very serious and determined way if you're going to beat it.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

When the line started to blur between the fans and the players, sometimes things can get ugly.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

In athletics there's always been a willingness to cheat if it looks like you're not cheating. I think that's just a quirk of human nature.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Life

Music rhythms are mathematical patterns. When you hear a song and your body starts moving with it, your body is doing math. The kids in their parents' garage practicing to be a band may not realize it, but they're also practicing math.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

I'm not comfortable being preachy, but more people need to start spending as much time in the library as they do on the basketball court.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

I tell kids to pursue their basketball dreams, but I tell them to not let that be their only dream.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Hope

Five guys on the court working together can achieve more than five talented individuals who come and go as individuals.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Success

A team will always appreciate a great individual if he's willing to sacrifice for the group.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

I can do something else besides stuff a ball through a hoop. My biggest resource is my mind.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

I enjoy seeing new places.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Happiness

You can't win if you don't play as a unit.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

I saw Islam as the correct way to live, and I chose to try to live that way.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

If not shown appreciation, it gets to you.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

I think someone should explain to the child that it's OK to make mistakes. That's how we learn. When we compete, we make mistakes.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Education

I would suggest that teachers show their students concrete examples of the negative effects of the actions that gangsta rappers glorify.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Education

I felt that a number of people might have questioned my loyalty, but I continue to be a patriotic American.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

Today's youth are told to get rich or die trying and they really shouldn't take that attitude forward with them.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom

I think black Americans expect too much from individual black Americans in terms of changing the status quo.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Wisdom