An unstoppable NFL line-backer, there was always a certain attitude Ray Lewis had during his games with quotes that have become legendary throughout the sporting world. The former NFL star was a winner. Period.
Born in 1975 in Florida, American athlete Ray Lewis was a legendary Ravens linebacker. He won two super bowls, led the Ravens to the playoffs time and time again in the 2000’s and was awarded defensive player of the year three times. Lewis was selected to the pro-bowl an astonishing 13 times and was also the second line-backer ever to win the Super Bowl MVP.
Ray was much more to the world than just an athlete. At every home game he would come out of the tunnel and do his famous squirrel dance to pump up the crowd. He built a solid reputation for playing football with real purpose, motivating not just his team but the entire city of Baltimore.
In 2013 Lewis announced he would retire after his team finished the 2012–13 NFL playoffs.
No one could match his drive, his leadership and desire to win. His hunger to become a champion was there for all to see on the field and hear off the field. Ingrained in these motivational quotes are the championships, desire, passion, heart and never say die attitude the linebacker displayed – to unleash the unstoppable power within you.
1. You got to be willing to walk in a storm. That’s what I tell people all the time.
2. Don’t waste talent No matter what you do, don’t waste talent.
3. You gotta be hungry for it. You’ve got to put everything you got on it. Everything! Every second. You have to be the first one in line. That’s how leaders are born.
4. I don’t know a man on this Earth who can outwork me.
5. I like to see honesty out of people. People who are trustworthy. I like to see people who are involved with The Lord.
6. Before I lead any other man into anything I’m willing to take the hard falls myself but also come back and share the pains that came from it.
7. What makes you grind? You have to always be chasing something.
8. When something goes wrong, smile, cause there’s always a next play.
9. Bottom line, your body is a temple and you have to treat it that way. That’s how God designed it.
10. You’ve got to go out and show them that I’m a different creature now, then I was five minutes ago, cause I’m pissed off for greatness. Cause if you ain’t pissed off for greatness, that just means you’re okay with being mediocre.
11. Never be comfortable with just good enough.
12. I figured something out. And it is no secret what I figured out. Whatever the majority of people were doing, I found myself doing the opposite. I wanted to chase something great.
13. Man doesn’t dictate what you do or how you do it. If you believe in God, believe in God; have your faith in him. That’s where my faith lies.
14. I ride my bicycle all the time. There’s one thing about my bicycle. I’m riding, I’m riding, I’m riding. And no matter how tired I start to get, it’s never about this pedal I’m pedaling, it’s about the next pedal, and if you can get to that next one, your bike will keep moving.
15. With all the things I’ve been through, the No. 1 thing that I’ve learned is that we’re supposed to help people through this world.
16. Wins and losses come a dime a dozen. But effort? Nobody can judge that. Because effort is between you and you.
17. Do whatever you got to do to make sure you chase your legacy every second in your life.
18. There’s one secret to hitting hard, and that is to completely dedicate your body. That’s the difference between a man going forward and a man going backward, no matter how big he is.
19. The only thing that could pull me away, was hard work.
20. If there’s something in your life that you know needs changing, make sure you change it before God’s got to change it. Because if God’s got to change it , you ain’t going to like it.
21. The day you think you can beat me, show me. Then move on to the next challenge.
22. Success is one thing, impact is another.
23. Let me explain my job very simply: My job is to line up five, seven, 10 yards in front of a man and run into him at full speed.
24. We get one opportunity in life, one chance at life to do whatever you’re going to do, and lay your foundation and make whatever mark you’re going to make .Whatever legacy you’re going to leave; leave your legacy!
25. Don’t walk through life just playing football. Don’t walk through life just being an athlete. Athletics will fade. Character and integrity and really making an impact on someone’s life, that’s the ultimate vision, that’s the ultimate goal – bottom line.
26. Will you be remembered, how would you be remembered, why wouldn’t you fight for the greatest achievement ever?
27. There’s a spirit that grabs me, and it’s in every one of you guys, but the question is, how much time are we wasting?
28. In any war who pulls their general out? No one.
29. Don’t let your alarm clock, be the only reason you wake up.
30. I prepare so no one can take what is mine, no one can replace my mind, my heart.
31. You have to be careful of people who like to talk a big game but can’t back it up.
32. What’s the difference between you and the man sitting beside you? It’s 1%. In my business, only 1% makes it. If everyone had the same dream, only 1 will make it from this crowd. Who will be that one?
33. It has nothing to do with talent, and everything to do with effort! Wins and losses come a dime a dozen. But effort? Nobody can judge that. Because effort is between you and you.
34. I’m a prideful person when it comes to competition.
35. I just came out of the gym from three hours this morning. I got five hours of sleep. That’s it.
36. The greatest opportunity in the world is found here today… We already know what yesterday has got for us. It’s already gone. Tomorrow, too far away. What about right now!
37. You take five fingers. Individually, I can pin any one of them, but if I pin them together (makes a fist), it’s damn near impossible to turn this around.
38. If tomorrow wasn’t promised, what would you give for today?
39. To be the best and stay there, sweat is necessary.
40. The only way to defeat pain is to recognize pain exists.
41. In any war, you put your back to mine, I put my back to yours, and let’s do what we gotta do.
42. You have to get back to being kids again. You can’t never get tired. I have something burning inside me. I am a kid all over again.
43. The hardest thing to do is work hard when no one is watching.
44. Every day of my life I’m trying to find a different way to get better.
45. My pain is my badge of honor.
46. Some people take certain things and they try to forget what that pain felt like. I don’t. I take that same pain and I chase it every time I walk in a weight room.
47. My game is me. I didn’t try to pattern my game after nobody.
48. You’re carrying a legacy, You’re carrying greatness. And greatness is a lot of small things done well. Day after day. Workout after workout. Obedience after obedience.
49. I’m older, of course I’m older, that’s the beauty of it. Sixteen years plus. Different level of wisdom, different level of understanding, different level of punishment. I want to live long after my records have fallen, long after my rings have tarnished.
50. Man believes in the possible, but God believes in the impossible.
51. Nobody’s as serious about health and fitness as me, and staying fit is my top priority.
52. I have so much respect for people that are my elders. You aren’t going to hear me cursing around people that are 60 and 70 years old.
53. Every day, we’ve got to do something physical. It’s mind, body and spirit.