Here is the meaning of ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there by John Wooden.
The word “character” means your personality, temperament, or mentality.
So this quotation by John Wooden aka the “Wizard of Westwood”, “Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there” means just having a skill or talent is not enough to stay successful.
In order to be continuously successful, one still needs to have a good character, to be exact.
Good character includes integrity, moral strength, rectitude, fortitude, or grit.
Ability May Get You To The Top Meaning
We all have read or heard the popular saying “talent is never enough“.
As mentioned in John Maxwell’s book, “TALENT IS NEVER ENOUGH: Discover the Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent“, Maxwell said there are thirteen choices you need to make in order to maximize your own personal talents.
They are: belief, passion, initiative, focus, preparation, practice, perseverance, courage, teachability, character, relationships, responsibility and teamwork.
Here is link to the summary of John Maxwell‘s book.
Anyway, this is where John Wooden’s quote is found:
“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” – John Wooden
(They Call Me Coach By John Wooden, Jack Tobin, World Books, 1972, 23, P. 153) source
Here are two more inspiring quotes found in this book:
“…it couldn’t make the man, unless the latent talent were present.” – John Wooden
(They Call Me Coach As Told To Jack Tobin, New York: Bantam Books, 197, 28,P. 193) source
“Although no coach can have an outstanding winning percentage without outstanding players, not every coach will have it even with outstanding players.” – John Wooden
(They Call Me Coach: John Wooden With Jack Tobin, New York: McGraw Hill Professional, 2004, 32, P. 234) source
“There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith which cannot be acquired without prayer.” – John Wooden
(They Call Me Coach As Told To Jack Tobin, New York: Bantam Books, 1973, 13, P. 91) source
You can get your free book “They Call Me Coach: John Wooden With Jack Tobin” from here.
Disclaimer: I do not own or upload this book here. It is copyrighted to the respective owner.
Remember to check out this insightful collection of ability quotations that can change your life for the better.