When it comes to words of inspiration, Michael Jordan quotes have it in the bag. After all, the life of the "greatest player of all time" is a success story unlike any other. When it comes to words of wisdom, he's definitely got it down pat. Here are 14 inspirational quotes to kick off his birthday celebration.



1. "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."

2. "I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results."

3. "I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."

4. "If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome."

5. "Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen."

6. "If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

7. "If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you."

8. "My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength."

9. "Failure always made me try harder next time."

10. "I realized that if I was going to achieve anything in life I had to be aggressive. I had to get out there and go for it."

11. "To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don't isolate."

12. "I just feel that my competitive drive is far greater than anyone else that I've met and I think that I thrive on that. I think that is my biggest motivation in life -- to compete, find different competitions in certain things in life and try to overcome that, be it positive or negative."

13. "If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That's truly about the game, and in some ways that's about life too."

14. "Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation."

And there you have it - fourteen wonderful, inspirational quotes. With the right attitude and outlook on life, anything is possible and the above Michael Jordan quotes just go to prove it.