40 Quotes by Merlin Olsen

One of life’s most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn’t do our homework, that we are not prepared.

Perseverance isn’t just the willingness to work hard. It’s that plus the willingness to be stubborn about your own belief in yourself.

It took me a while to realize that basketball wasn’t football.

The basketball coach cut me within two days, so I was back in the pool. I was the first one in the wall after the first 25 yards, but the last one out because I didn’t have a flip turn.

Our coach was absolutely out of his head. He must have read Bear Bryant’s book. We had 78 players out. The first day 35 quit. Twenty quit the second day. We ended with 17 players. It was depressing.

I’ve caught fish as big as I am. I’ve caught marlin close to 300 pounds.

Jogging is my idea of nothing to do.

Parenting is perhaps the most important job we have in our lives.

At 285 pounds, I was extremely strong, and it was all usable strength that I could direct against opponents, not like that of a weightlifter, whose feats of power are all restricted.