162 Quotes by Billie Jean King

Being Number One isn’t everything to me, but for those few hours on the court it’s way ahead of whatever’s in second place.

Don’t go into debt and don’t spend a lot. It’s not how much money you make, it’s how much you spend.

I’ve never cared that much for cementing my place in history. Sports is so transitory, so ephemeral. It just seems like so much nonsense comparing me to Helen Wills Moody or Suzanne Lenglen or anybody else from some other time. One lesson you learn from sports is that life goes on without you.

It’s about learning your craft. That’s a wonderful thing – especially with today’s consumerism and instant gratification. You can’tbuy that. It’s about making decisions, corrections, choices. I don’t think it’s so much about becoming a tennis player. It’s about becoming a person.

I think younger players probably just think they are who they are-they don’t think about coming out. Unless you’re number one in the world, nobody cares, usually.

I feel that tennis is an art form that is capable of moving the players and the audience – at least a knowledgeable audience-in almost sensual ways. When I’m performing at my absolute best, I think that some of the euphoria I feel must be transmitted to the audience.

You’ve got to win in sports – that’s talent – but you’ve also got to learn how to remind everybody how you did win, and how often. That comes with experience.

I think it’s really important to have portion control. I don’t believe in losing weight quickly.

Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It’s dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.