True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

Meaning of the quote

True heroism is not about being dramatic or trying to be better than everyone else no matter what. It's about wanting to help others, even if it means sacrificing something for yourself.

About Arthur Ashe

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More quotes from Arthur Ashe

Trust has to be earned, and should come only after the passage of time.

Arthur Ashe

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I don’t want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments.

Arthur Ashe

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You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.

Arthur Ashe

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Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

Arthur Ashe

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Let me put it this way: I think Republicans tend to keep the ball in play, Democrats go for broke.

Arthur Ashe

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If you’re paid before you walk on the court, what’s the point in playing as if your life depended on it?

Arthur Ashe

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I guess I started too early because I just thought it was something fun to do.

Arthur Ashe

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Do not feel sorry for me if I am gone.

Arthur Ashe

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Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.

Arthur Ashe

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We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.

Arthur Ashe

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I accepted the face that as much as I want to lead others, and love to be around other people, in some essential way, I am something of a loner.

Arthur Ashe

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I may not be walking with you all the way, or even much of the way, as I walk with you now.

Arthur Ashe

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When we were together, I loved you deeply and you gave me so much happiness I can never repay you.

Arthur Ashe

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I keep sailing on in this middle passage. I am sailing into the wind and the dark. But I am doing my best to keep my boat steady and my sails full.

Arthur Ashe

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There is a syndrome in sports called “paralysis by analysis.”

Arthur Ashe

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Later, I discovered there was a lot of work to being good in tennis.

Arthur Ashe

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From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.

Arthur Ashe

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True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

Arthur Ashe

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You learn about equality in history and civics, but you find out life is not really like that.

Arthur Ashe

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I don’t care who you are, you’re going to choke in certain matches. You get to a point where your legs don’t move and you can’t take a deep breath. You start to hit the ball about a yard wide, instead of inches.

Arthur Ashe

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When bright young minds can’t afford college, America pays the price.

Arthur Ashe

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The ideal attitude is to be physically loose and mentally tight.

Arthur Ashe

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I have tried to keep on with my striving because this is the only hope I have of ever achieving anything worthwhile and lasting.

Arthur Ashe

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My potential is more than can be expressed within the bounds of my race or ethnic identity.

Arthur Ashe

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Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.

Arthur Ashe

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We must believe in the power of education. We must respect just laws. We must love ourselves, our old and or young, our women as well as our men.

Arthur Ashe

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One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.

Arthur Ashe

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If I were to say, “God, why me?” about the bad things, then I should have said, “God, why me?” about the good things that happened in my life.

Arthur Ashe

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I have always drawn strength from being close to home.

Arthur Ashe

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A wise person decides slowly but abides by these decisions.

Arthur Ashe

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