Arthur Ashe Quotes - Page 3

We blacks look for leadership in men and women of such youth and inexperience, as well as poverty of education and character, that it is no wonder that we sometimes seem rudderless.... We see basketball players and pop singers as possible role models, when nothing could be further, in most cases, from their capacities.

There's no better stage than the U.S. Open for me

Throughout my formal education I spent many, many hours in public and school libraries. Libraries became courts of last resort, as it were. The current definitive answer to almost any question can be found within the four walls of most libraries.

My humanity, in common with all of God's children, gives the greatest flight to my full range of my possibilities.

Later, I discovered there was a lot of work to being good in tennis.

When we were together, I loved you deeply and you gave me so much happiness I can never repay you.

There is a terrific apprehension among some people that blacks will take over the sport... It will create problems because their behavior, speech and dress is just a completely different culture.

Always have the situation under control, even if losing. Never betray an inward sense of defeat.

I'm learning to use others' weaknesses. I don't hammer a man's soft spot constantly, because he may strengthen it. I just save it as a trump up my sleeve for moments when I really need a point.

I accepted the face that as much as I want to lead others, and love to be around other people, in some essential way, I am something of a loner.

In America you're conditioned to regard everything as a contest. You have to make the Ten Best Dressed List, win this, win that. It drives me nuts sometimes. Who cares, for Christ's sake?

I don't want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments.

You learn about equality in history and civics, but you find out life is not really like that.

I don't care who you are, you're going to choke in certain matches. You get to a point where your legs don't move and you can't take a deep breath. You start to hit the ball about a yard wide, instead of inches.

This is my career highlight. Getting to the fourth round in the U.S. Open in my first year in the U.S. Open and first year on the tour.

It's an abnormal world I live in. I don't belong anywhere. It's like I'm floating down the middle. I'm never quite sure where I am.

A couple of times a day I sit quietly and visualize my body fighting the AIDS virus. It's the same as me sitting and seeing myself hit the perfect serve. I did that often when I was an athlete.

If I didn't play tennis I probably would have to see a psychiatrist.

Do not feel sorry for me if I am gone.

I may not be walking with you all the way, or even much of the way, as I walk with you now.

If you're paid before you walk on the court, what's the point in playing as if your life depended on it?

Seven out of 10 black faces you see on television are athletes. The black athlete carries the image of the black community. He carries the cross, in a way, until blacks make inroads in other dimensions.

Martina's like the old Green Bay Packers. You know exactly what she's going to do, but there isn't a thing you can do about it.

I guess I started too early because I just thought it was something fun to do.