Jim Brown quotes

Jim Brown was an American athlete, widely regarded as one of the greatest football players in NFL history. His remarkable power, speed, and athletic versatility set new standards for the sport. He later became an influential actor and activist after retiring from football. Here are 24 of his quotes:

Even though the money is great and the fame is great, you still have a lot of disenfranchised young men that are participating in the NFL that are not very happy. A lot of them are very bitter. A lot them are very angry. So many of them have had no fathers and no home life, and basically, no education.

Jim Brown

I'm a very sensitive person. I do like to be respected. I'm very loyal. I like it to be a two-way street.

Jim Brown

He told me, 'Make sure when anyone tackles you, he remembers how much it hurts.' He lived by that philosophy and I always followed that advice.

Jim Brown

A liberal will cut off your leg so he can hand you a crutch.

Jim Brown

I don't teach kids to be number 1. Organizations and people that tell you you have to be number 1; that's not it. You don't have to be number 1. What I teach is to be as good as you can be. Use what you have and be as good as you can be. That's all you can do, anyway.

Jim Brown

When you have a problem, rules don't solve your problem. It's caring and education.

Jim Brown

Money has changed today's black athletes. Those who have the ability as African men to bring a change in a community that so desperately needs it are concentrating only on their own careers, some charities and how much money they can make.

Jim Brown

If you truly believe something, and it's incorrect, that doesn't mean you don't have integrity.

Jim Brown

The social issues outside of football are not as defined as they were earlier, when integration took place and certain rights were legislated. The Civil Rights movement is over. Individuals can buy homes wherever they want, travel first class wherever they want, eat wherever they want.

Jim Brown

People think that coaches are always right, but it's difficult to teach a runner how to run, because every runner is different. You have to have an understanding of how to assist what that runner has, so they know how to assist what you have without taking away your special ability, because you're not like anybody else.

Jim Brown

The need to be cared for is the base of everything. In the penitentiaries, you won't hear gangbangers and criminals say, 'No, I don't want to be cared for by nobody.' When you care about them, they'll open up to you.

Jim Brown

The truth is that politicians are basically tied to trying to get reelected, so they can't really make landmark changes.

Jim Brown

I'm not interested in trying to work on people's perceptions. I am who I am, and if you don't take the time to learn about that, then your perception is going to be your problem.

Jim Brown

Nobody I ever broke bread with, and I see players all the time, talked about using their head running the football.

Jim Brown

I came from Long Island, so I had a lot of experience at the stick. I played in junior high school, then I played in high school. The technical aspect of the game was my forte. I had all that experience, then I had strength and I was in good condition.

Jim Brown

Michael Jordan brings millions of dollars when he shows up in an arena. Since money is how we judge people, he's very valuable. But while that's happening, Rome is burning within the black community.

Jim Brown

I was just a big guy running down with a big, deep pocket and little short stick putting it against my chest.

Jim Brown

I loved the game. We played because we loved it.

Jim Brown

When I'm on a picture, I have two bosses - the director and the producer. My co-star is not my boss.

Jim Brown

I have a theory. An audience doesn't need to get wrapped up in blackness every time they see a Negro actor. And a movie doesn't have to be about race just because there's a Negro in it.

Jim Brown

I'm not pro-owner or pro-player. I am pro-football. I want the game to go on. I want the game to be tough. I don't want the game to be a killer of our players.

Jim Brown