Pete Sampras Quotes

He said I couldn't do (off the field) what I did when I was 23 or 24, and I paid attention to him. Damn it, I got a trainer and went to spring training in the best shape of my career and in 1985 had the best season I ever had and we won the World Series. Before that, I didn't know how long I was going to play. That talk with Mr. Fogelman was the most inspiring talk I ever had with anyone.

When you've something to fight for, you get the best out of yourself.

Even though I am extremely blessed to have accomplished many of my goals at such a young age, I am still reaching, still striving.

There were periods of my life when a lot of people didn't believe in me. I still had faith in myself. I really had to ask myself life questions. Where do I see myself in five years? Create a ladder for yourself, and walk up the steps. Climb that ladder.

The dream doesn't lie in victimization or blame; it lies in hard work, determination and a good education.

I've always thrived on challenges, both personally and professionally.

The key to my perseverance was absolutely loving the craft of acting. I just figured that if I kept doing it, at the very least I would get better at acting. Even if I didn't become a tremendous success, as long as I knew I was improving and getting better, to me, that was success.

If America had a motto, it would be pull yourself up by the bootstraps, work harder than the next guy, have a goal and achieve it.

The will to challenge myself is strong, but I think that's growing, the desire to stretch myself and make it hard.

I was a sheet metal worker, then a metal engineer, then a Pontin's bluecoat, then a comedian. You can achieve anything you want if you put your mind to it.

I love competing in everything that I do, and I try to express that, but I try not to rush it.

In 1987, I wrote a goal sheet. I didn't want to waste my life. I'd dropped out of college, and there was a lot of pressure from my parents. I decided, 'If you're going to do this, you're going to become the best in the world at this.'

Believe in yourself. Push to your highest limit.

Whatever you do, whether you're a journalist or a player, you want to see what you can do - that's why you're doing it.

There's some days you start to think, 'When is my chance going to come?' As a professional, you always have that at the back of your mind.

I did a job. I completed my Matric and my Bachelors. I did a marketing job. I worked as a bus hostess. I did a lot of jobs; I struggled a lot. I got out from there. The first thing I did when I got out of Darul Aman was my Matric. Then I did my Bachelors privately; I kept doing it.

To be the top guy throughout my life and my career, to have people coming at me every game, giving me their best shot - that's part of the reason I went to Duke. I love that stuff.

I just like to keep pushing myself and the sport.

I think everyone's got an obstacle in their career that they have to challenge. I think, in a way, that pushes you to prove who you are.

I'm about working, getting better, and proving people wrong.

My goal is always to get better every day. No one will ever outwork me. That's how it will always be for me. That will never change.

I will continue to fight to reach my targets with humility.

I have always wanted to fight no matter what position I am in, and whether that is Liverpool or England, I need to do more, and I need to do better because you have younger players, or players get signed for the club who push you and want to take your place, and you have to be better than them.

There's a lot of people on the way up who want to take my place, so it's up to me to continue to improve.

I believe that no matter how many mistakes we’ve made; how badly we’ve really, really screwed up; how old, worn out, or dejected we’ve become; as long as there is true, steadfast ambition, all of us have an opportunity for greatness.