1. “If you want to achieve greatness, you have to be willing to take risks.” – Magic Johnson
2. “I’ve always been a leader my whole life. I’ve always led. I didn’t know how to do anything else.” – Magic Johnson
3. “Talent is never enough. With few exceptions the best players are the hardest workers.” – Magic Johnson
4. “It’s not about the size of the person, it’s about the size of their resolve.” – Magic Johnson
5. “My father is my idol, so I always did everything like him. He used to work two jobs and still come home happy every night.” – Magic Johnson
6. “I don’t believe in limitations. The only limits we have are the ones we impose on ourselves.” – Magic Johnson
7. “I’m the same guy I’ve always been, but now I have the chance to influence others and make a positive impact.” – Magic Johnson
8. “People don’t stop eating, and they don’t stop drinking coffee.” – Magic Johnson
9. “When I’m under the gun and I’ve got pressure on me, I don’t panic. I look for the right solution, and then I go for it.” – Magic Johnson
10. “Research your idea. See if there’s a demand. A lot of people have great ideas, but they don’t know if there’s a need for it. You also have to research your competition.” – Magic Johnson
11. “For me, it always goes back to something I learned in basketball. There’s winning and there’s losing, and in life you have to know they both will happen. But what’s never been acceptable to me is quitting.” – Magic Johnson
12. “I like to take walks in the park by myself, where no one can bother me and I can think.” – Magic Johnson
13. “If people around you aren’t going anywhere, if their dreams are no bigger than hanging out on the corner, or if they’re dragging you down, get rid of them.” – Magic Johnson
14. “Don’t give up! Be friends with people who help you work hard.” – Magic Johnson
15. “If you’re a competitive person, that stays with you. You don’t stop. You always look over your shoulder.” – Magic Johnson
16. “I’m a big believer in dreaming. If you don’t dream it, you can’t become it.” – Magic Johnson
17. “I am a businessman. This is what I do each and every day. I love it. I love coming to work. I never have a bad day.” – Magic Johnson
18. “You know I was a shy guy and people didn’t know that and still don’t know it today. I’m sure basketball brought my shyness out because of the fact that you have to do interviews, and that people are always talking to you in terms of the fans and everything.” – Magic Johnson
19. “I believe in hard work, dedication, and the power of teamwork.” – Magic Johnson
20. “When you are honest and open with young people, they let you in.” – Magic Johnson
21. “Being able to touch so many people through my businesses and make money while doing it, is a huge blessing.” – Magic Johnson
22. “I strive on pressure.” – Magic Johnson
23. “I often tell people when you make a mistake, you not only hurt yourself, but you hurt the ones that love you.” – Magic Johnson
24. “It’s a burden trying to keep a secret. It’s hard. It probably takes more out of you trying to hold it and keep it than it does for you to really let it out.” – Magic Johnson
25. “The game of basketball is much more than just a sport. It’s about bringing people together and making a positive impact.” – Magic Johnson
26. “Assists is what Earvin is all about. That’s what my whole life has been, assisting others.” – Magic Johnson
27. “On the best tactic when playing alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Just give him the ball.” – Magic Johnson
28. “I’ve learned that failure is not the end, but rather an opportunity to learn and grow.” – Magic Johnson
29. “You have to believe in yourself and your abilities, even when others doubt you.” – Magic Johnson
30. “When you face a crisis, you know who your true friends are.” – Magic Johnson
31. “I never consider myself as the best, but rather as someone who is constantly striving to improve.” – Magic Johnson
32. “I only know one way to play, and that’s to give it everything I have.” – Magic Johnson
33. “I just try to do what I do best and that’s play basketball.” – Magic Johnson
34. “I was able to see what I wanted to do, I could see the opportunity, even when others could not, and I stay committed to doing it and doing it well, no matter what.” – Magic Johnson
35. “To me, everything is wonderful. Life is wonderful.” – Magic Johnson
36. “I wanted to do two things when I was growing up, about your age. I wanted to play in the NBA, and I wanted to be a businessman after my basketball career was over, and that is what I am doing now.” – Magic Johnson
37. “In life, winning and losing will both happen. What is never acceptable is quitting.” – Magic Johnson
38. “You have to be willing to put in the work and make sacrifices to achieve greatness.” – Magic Johnson
39. “I motivate others by making sure that they understand to go after their dreams and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t.” – Magic Johnson
40. “You’re the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it.” – Magic Johnson
41. “I never think that there’s something I can’t do, whether it’s beating my opponent one on one or practicing another hour because something about my game is just not right.” – Magic Johnson
42. “I have found that when you focus on your strengths and what you can control, everything else falls into place.” – Magic Johnson
43. “I only know how to play two ways: reckless and abandon.” – Magic Johnson
44. “All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them.” – Magic Johnson
45. “I look three to five years ahead, not 10 years behind.” – Magic Johnson
46. “Larry, you only told me one lie. You said there will be another Larry Bird. Larry, there will never, ever be another Larry Bird.” – Magic Johnson
47. “If you hate to lose, you do whatever you need to do to make sure you’re business is successful.” – Magic Johnson
48. “Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates.” – Magic Johnson
49. “You don’t have to be Magic to be special. You’re already special, you’re you.” – Magic Johnson
50. “For a long time, I’d work until 10 or 11. When I work, I’m on. I’m ‘Magic.’ I love it, but it takes a lot out of me.” – Magic Johnson
51. “If you want someone to be your mentor, you better be ready to listen and be humbled.” – Magic Johnson
52. “I’m at peace with myself. The main thing is not letting people dictate what I do or what I am.” – Magic Johnson
53. “They said playing basketball would kill me. Well, not playing basketball was killing me.” – Magic Johnson
54. “Life doesn’t stop because something happens to you.” – Magic Johnson
55. “I’m the one who will take chances, not worry about the backlash.” – Magic Johnson
56. “I really want people to know that I’ve worked hard, very hard, to get to where I am today… this didn’t just happen overnight. I started in business over 25 years ago and have found a way to build on what I’ve learned through every partnership and opportunity.” – Magic Johnson
57. “Once Michael gets up there he says, ‘Well, maybe I’ll just hang up here in the air for a while, just sit back.’ Then all of a sudden, he says, ‘Well, maybe I’ll 360. No I changed my mind. I’ll go up on the other side.’ He’s just incredible.” – Magic Johnson
58. “I grew up poor, but I didn’t have poor dreams.” – Magic Johnson
59. “Just celebrate the life you had, not the life you could’ve had.” – Magic Johnson
60. “I try to hire people I don’t have to motivate. But I do motivate the people working with and for me.” – Magic Johnson
61. “HIV changed my life, but it doesn’t keep me from living.” – Magic Johnson
62. “Any guy who can maintain a positive attitude without much playing time certainly earns my respect.” – Magic Johnson
63. “I think you just have to keep knocking down doors, you have to keep being aggressive, and even if somebody says ‘No’, then you have to knock on the next door.” – Magic Johnson
64. “A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom. Just like right now with the whole mortgage crisis, I want to help people get back into their homes.” – Magic Johnson
65. “It’s a lot of energy that goes into winning a championship… I’m not settling for anything less than winning.” – Magic Johnson
66. “Even when I went to the playground, I never picked the best players. I picked guys with less talent, but who were willing to work hard and had the desire to be great.” – Magic Johnson
67. “If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to use every connection you’ve got.” – Magic Johnson
68. “My diet is mostly chicken and fish. I make sure I get a lot of vegetables, a lot of fruit. I am a big fruit man, I am a vegetable man anyway. And I also get a lot of rest. That’s the key I may be up early, but I’m in bed early too.” – Magic Johnson
69. “I think that there are always goals for me to try to achieve, and I’m going to work toward those goals.” – Magic Johnson
70. “Young people want you to be real with them.” – Magic Johnson
71. “Everybody on a championship team doesn’t get publicity, but everyone can say he’s a champion.” – Magic Johnson
72. “Success is not about how many points you score, but rather how much you inspire others.” – Magic Johnson
73. “We all have to play as a team to make the world a better place.” – Magic Johnson
74. “A woman always remembers. Remember that.” – Magic Johnson
75. “If somebody says no to you, or if you get cut, Michael Jordan was cut his first year, but he came back and he was the best ever. That is what you have to have. The attitude that I’m going to show everybody, I’m going to work hard to get better and better.” – Magic Johnson
76. “I am a winner, and I will do whatever it takes to win.” – Magic Johnson
77. “I’m a big believer in dreaming. If you don’t dream it, you can’t become it.” – Magic Johnson
78. “As an athlete, I understood the value of my health insurance. I knew that in my profession, injuries were common and could happen at any time.” – Magic Johnson
79. “If you are motivated enough and put the work in that you can achieve anything in life that you set your mind to.” – Magic Johnson
80. “I’ve learned that success is not a destination, but rather a journey.” – Magic Johnson
81. “When you are a successful business person, you are only as good as your team. No one can do every deal alone.” – Magic Johnson
82. “Standing on that platform, I said a silent prayer. I thanked God for giving me the strength and the opportunity to come back, to play basketball again, and to be part of that whole magnificent Olympic experience. It’s a memory I will always cherish.” – Magic Johnson
83. “A lot of black guys always ask me, ‘Did Larry Bird really play that good?’ I said, ‘Larry Bird is so good it’s frightening.’” – Magic Johnson
84. “Manhood is taking care of your family and being able to bless other people. Not yourself – but whether you can bless other people.” – Magic Johnson
85. “I love coming to work. I never have a bad day.” – Magic Johnson
86. “It’s almost like we have ESPN.” – Magic Johnson
87. “Even as a fierce competitor I try to smile.” – Magic Johnson
88. “A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom.” – Magic Johnson
89. “If the community is happy, then they support your business and if your business is doing well, then you can give back even more to the community.” – Magic Johnson
90. “No matter what obstacles come my way, I will always find a way to overcome them.” – Magic Johnson