Pete Sampras Quotes

I want to affect culture. I want to have my mark on everything. I give examples of people like Bill Cosby, Quincy Jones - those are the people who I look up to. The game wouldn't be the same without them. What happens in the course of 5 years isn't really important to me. I care about what they'll say about me in 50 years.

I often wonder what I will be remembered in history for. Scholar? Military hero? Builder?

I certainly hope 'Dragon' can leave some legacy behind.

I am aware of the words 'national treasure' being attached to me occasionally. It just makes me feel old.

It is very difficult to capture over the centuries, the charisma of an individual.

In two thousand years all our generals and politicians may be forgotten, but Einstein and Madame Curie and Bernard Shaw and Stravinsky will keep the memory of our age alive.

I always wanted to be historical, from almost a baby on, I felt that way about it.

To be a winner of that, and to fall in the long line of traditional great backs at USC, to have your name in perpetuity, the fact that your parents are like icons... that's the greatest thing.

History will dictate what my legacy is. And 'maverick' is fine, because I am.

With sincere modesty, if there is such a thing, I have never thought of legacy at all. I am always grateful if people like what I have done. A legacy is something no one can forsee.

It's fun to be a part of pop history. Anytime you can be referenced in that respect it can be cool.

I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.

I'm somebody who's really contributed to culture. Popular culture.

I hope when I'm dead I'll be considered an icon, though.

I'm lucky. Usually you're dead to get your own museum, but I'm still alive to see mine.

Surely every band wants to be a pivotal point in history.

I guess I'll go to my grave as the Dodger, but at least I've made my mark on show-business history.

I want to be more than just some guy who played in a World Cup final.

When I'm dead, I wanna leave a body of work, like authors or great painters do. I don't wanna get ideas above my station, but why shouldn't this be comparable? Pop music was supposed to be a flash in the pan, but here we are 50 years later, and it means something to us, and it always will do. It's incredibly important.

His career will greatly engage historians, if any good ones ever appear in America, but it will be of even more interest to psychologists.

There is always one thing that turns you into an icon, an iconic image: in my case, a catsuit. But the icon 40 years later doesn't really want to know because it's not relevant to me.

Some people are so famous that the legends about them and the cultural aftermath of their life altogether obscure the real human being.

That's why we're here: to leave a legacy that'll be remembered long after we're done. And what a great start to my legacy, man, being the first UFC flyweight champion.

I've already done enough to prove myself. Win or lose, I think I've done enough to cement my name in the history of this sport. So for me, it's more like I have to win just for an opportunity to get on the mic and say all that.

Defensive awards and accolades aside, to have your jersey retired puts you in a position where you'll be known forever.