54 Quotes by Pierre de Coubertin

The Olympic flag [] has a white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red []. This design is symbolic; it represents the five continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colours are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time.

The heart of our problem is the selfishness in our heart. The human spirit soars with hope when lifted by an encouraging word. The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.

Winning medals wasn’t the point of the Olympics. It’s the participating that counts.

For each individual, sport is a possible source for inner improvement.

Olympism is not a system – it is a state of mind. This state of mind has emerged from a double cult: that of effort and that of Eurythmy – a taste of excess and a taste of measure combined.

Sport is part of every man and woman’s heritage and its absence can never be compensated for.

The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part; the important thing in Life is not triumph, but the struggle; the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. To spread these principles is to build up a strong and more valiant and, above all, more scrupulous and more generous humanity.

The six colours, including the white background, represent the colours of all the world’s flags... this is a true international emblem.