Billie Jean King quotes

Billie Jean King is an American tennis player and social activist, widely regarded as one of the greatest female athletes in history. Her achievements on the court and her advocacy for gender equality have inspired generations. She has won numerous Grand Slam titles and remains a powerful voice for equality in sports. Here are 55 of her quotes:

Champions keep playing until they get it right. (Billie Jean King)
In the seventies we had to make it acceptable for people to accept girls and women as athletes. We had to make it okay for them to be active. Those were much scarier times for females in sports. View quote
Billie Jean King
A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning. View quote
Billie Jean King
Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball. View quote
Billie Jean King
Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity. View quote
Billie Jean King
Everyone has people in their lives that are gay, lesbian or transgender or bisexual. They may not want to admit it, but I guarantee they know somebody. View quote
Billie Jean King
Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose-it teaches you about life. View quote
Billie Jean King
I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion. View quote
Billie Jean King
The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing. View quote
Billie Jean King
Tennis taught me so many lessons in life. One of the things it taught me is that every ball that comes to me, I have to make a decision. I have to accept responsibility for the consequences every time I hit a ball. View quote
Billie Jean King
In 1973, a woman could not get a credit card without her husband or father or a male signing off on it. (Billie Jean King)
I didn't really care if I had a coach that much, me personally, because I was brought up to think for myself. View quote
Billie Jean King
When they take surveys of women in business, of the Fortune 500, the successful women, 80% of them, say they were in sports as a young woman. View quote
Billie Jean King
It is very hard to be a female leader. While it is assumed that any man, no matter how tough, has a soft side... and female leader is assumed to be one-dimensional. View quote
Billie Jean King
I like entrepreneurial people; I like people who take risks. View quote
Billie Jean King
I would just never out anybody. I think everyone has to find it in their own way and their own time. View quote
Billie Jean King
I wanted to use sports for social change. View quote
Billie Jean King
I think younger players probably just think they are who they are-they don't think about coming out. Unless you're number one in the world, nobody cares, usually. View quote
Billie Jean King
In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and business, we are at 68 cents on the dollar. View quote
Billie Jean King
I always liked co-ed events best so we have two men and two women on each team. View quote
Billie Jean King
Sports are a microcosm of society. (Billie Jean King)
That is where the power, opportunity, and choice come from-when you have money. Money equals opportunity. There is no question. View quote
Billie Jean King
Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever. View quote
Billie Jean King
I used to be told if I talked about my sexuality in any way that we wouldn't have a tennis tour. View quote
Billie Jean King
I would love to be a player today. I had the right personality for it. View quote
Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King - Image
Photo: Jonathan Exley, CC BY-SA 3.0
Occupation: American Tennis Player
Born: November 22, 1943
Quotes count: 55

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