Michael Jordan Quotes 14 Sourced Quotes

Michael Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired professional basketball player who played 13 seasons for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and 2 seasons for the Washington Wizards. He is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.

Here are 14 real Michael Jordan quotes ordered by their popularity online. The most quoted quotes on the web appear first. Questionable and fake quotes are excluded. Sources and related information are shown after each quote. We hope you find these quotes useful. If there is anything we can do to improve this article, your feedback is welcome. If you find these quotes helpful, please share them.

1. “[Jerry Krause] said organizations win championships. I said, ‘I didn't see organizations playing with the flu in Utah.’”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#1

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#1

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#1

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#1

Source: Hall of Fame induction address, 2009

2. “Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#2

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#2

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#2

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#2

Source: Hall of Fame induction address, 2009

3. “I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#3

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#3

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#3

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#3

Source: As quoted in Nike Culture : The Sign of the Swoosh (1998), by Robert Goldman and Stephen Papson, p. 49

4. “Can I still dunk... Are you stupid?”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#4

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#4

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#4

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#4

Source: Jordan's reply to Jay Leno's question, 2010

5. “I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying (no hard work).”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#5

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#5

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#5

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#5

Source: Jordan, Michael. I Can't Accept Not Trying : Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994. p. 129

6. “Enjoy every minute of life. Never second-guess life.”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#6

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#6

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#6

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#6

Source: How to be like Mike (2005)

7. “I was in Chicago in 1994 and at this time I had no thoughts of coming back and playing the game of basketball, Bryon Russell came over to me and said, ‘Why'd you quit? You know I could guard you.’ When I did come back in 1995 and we played Utah in '96, I'm at the center circle and Bryon Russell is standing next to me. I said, ‘You remember what you said in 1994 about, 'I think I can guard you, I can shut you down, I would love to play against you?' Well, you're about to get your chance.’”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#7

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#7

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#7

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#7

Source: Hall of Fame induction address, 2009

8. “I've reached the pinnacle of my career. I just feel that I don't have anything else to prove. When I lose the sense of motivation and the sense of 'to prove something' as a basketball player, it's time for me to move away from the game of basketball.”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#8

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#8

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#8

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#8

Source: Announcing his retirement from the Bulls (1993-10-06) Classic NBA Quotes: Michael Jordan, work: NBA Encyclopedia, publisher: NBA Media Ventures, retrieved: 2006-11-24

9. “I'm retired 99.9%. Of course, there always is that .1%.”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#9

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#9

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#9

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#9

Source: Statement of 1999-02-18 Classic NBA Quotes: Michael Jordan, work: NBA Encyclopedia, publisher: NBA Media Ventures, retrieved: 2006-11-22

10. “There will be a player greater than me.”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#10

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#10

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#10

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#10

Source: Michael Jordan to the Max (Film, 2000)

11. “I set another goal … a reasonable, manageable goal that I could realistically achieve if I worked hard enough. I approached everything step by step.”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#11

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#11

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#11

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#11

Source: How to be like Mike (2005)

12. “(In 1985, Jordan broke his foot and the team wanted to limit his return for fear of worsening the injury) The [Bulls] came up with this whole theory you can play seven minutes a game when I'm practicing two hours a day... I didn’t agree with that math. I wanted to play. I wanted to make the playoffs. [...] Jerry [Reinsdorf] said, ‘Let me ask if you had a headache and’ - there was a 10 percent chance then I’d reinjure my ankle - ‘and you've got 10 tablets and one of them is coated with cyanide, would you take it?’ I looked at him and said, ‘How bad is the headache?’ Jerry looked at me and said, ‘I guess that's a good answer, you can go back and play.’”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#12

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#12

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#12

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#12

Source: Hall of Fame induction address, 2009

13. “I'm back for the second time.”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#13

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#13

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#13

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#13

Source: Announcing his return to the Bulls (1995-03-18), Classic NBA Quotes: Michael Jordan, work: NBA Encyclopedia, publisher: NBA Media Ventures, retrieved: 2006-11-22

14. “I can remember a game, we were down with about 5 to 10 points, I go off about 25 points, we come back and win the game, we're walking off the floor. Tex (Winter) looks at me and says ‘There's no ’I‘ in team!’ I looked at Tex and say, ‘There's not, but there's an 'I' in win!’”

—Michael Jordan

Cite This Quote

Use the following citations in bold to cite the above quote for reference purposes. To cite multiple quotes, use the cite this page section below.

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#14

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#14

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#14

Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html#14

Source: Hall of Fame induction address, 2009

CITE THIS PAGE

Use the following citations in bold to cite quotations on this page for reference purposes:

For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html

Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.

Jordan, Michael (2017, November 15) Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html

Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 15 November 2017, https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html

MLA Citation: Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.

Jordan, Michael. “Michael Jordan Quotes: 14 Sourced Quotes.” Last modified November 15, 2017. https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/michael-jordan-quotes.html

RELATED PEOPLE

Sidebar content here.

Share This Page: